Transport minister says it is ‘longstanding practice’ not to appear and says she is doing the ‘hard work the Coalition never did’
The transport minister, Catherine King, has shot down calls for her to appear before a Senate inquiry examining her decision to reject Qatar Airways’ request for extra flights to Australia, labelling the probe “a political stunt”.
Questions about King’s meetings with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce had been raised throughout hearings last week, with committee chair Bridget McKenzie calling for both King and Joyce to front the inquiry. “While Senator McKenzie is wasting time on a political stunt, I am spending time doing the hard work the Coalition never did to set our aviation sector up for the future,” King said.The Coalition senator Simon Birmingham, who sits on the committee, blasted King’s refusal to appear and accused the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, of failing to lead the “accountable and transparent government” he promised before the election.
“The minister then refused to provide her own department with the relevant information requested by the committee and now refuses to even turn up to provide that information herself.” Hrdlicka said King told her that then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was “not happy” to hear of the Qatari bid and had requested a meeting with the minister.Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersLast Thursday morning senators asked department of infrastructure and transport officials at the inquiry for details of King’s discussions with airline officials, such as Joyce.
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