Qantas chiefs to front Qatar flights knockback probe

Dominic Giannini and Andrew Brown | September 27, 2023

Mounting criticism of Qantas and the government’s move to block extra Qatar Airways flights into Australia will come to a head during hearings into the decision.

A parliamentary committee is scrutinising the role Qantas played in the transport minister’s decision to knock back Qatar’s request to double weekly flights into Australia. 

Former Qantas boss Alan Joyce will be summoned to give evidence after declining a request to appear before the committee.

Mr Joyce could not appear in person or via video link because of personal obligations while overseas, his legal representatives told the committee.

But the committee will use its power to summon the former boss when he lands back in Australia after receiving “no indication that Mr Joyce will be available” before the October 9 reporting deadline. 

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the former chief executive had a duty to appear before the inquiry.

“He is entitled to do what he wants to do, but he has got public responsibilities, I think, to front up and talk to the Australian people about what has happened here,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder, CEO Vanessa Hudson and general counsel Andrew Finch will all appear before the committee in Canberra on Wednesday.

Mr Goyder is facing growing calls to resign from pilots and shareholders. 

The inquiry’s chair, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, did not say whether Mr Goyder should resign.

However, she said the board had contributed to the airline’s loss in public standing.

“Our once great national carrier that we’re all proud to call the spirit of Australia’s reputation has been trashed, and not just by the board, but by the former CEO’s behaviour and perceived cosy relationship with the Albanese government,” she told ABC Radio.

“Shareholders obviously purchase their shares as an investment and the shares are going in the wrong direction as customers and the broader aviation sector loses confidence in the behaviour of Qantas.”

Senator McKenzie said Mr Goyder and the airline’s new chief executive needed to answer pressing questions about the conduct of Qantas.

“We all need Qantas to be profitable, to keep employing tens of thousands of Australians in great jobs across the country,” she said.

“But what we don;t need it doing is trashing its reputation, ripping off loyal customers, illegally sacking staff and betraying shareholders.”

The Australian Shareholders’ Association is the latest to add its voice to the call, with chief executive Rachel Waterhouse saying a slew of recent scandals meant his position was untenable. 

The pilots union has also called for the chairman’s head, saying morale has never been lower following the illegal sacking of 1700 workers and allegations of illegally selling cancelled flights.

Qatar Airways’ senior vice-president of corporate affairs Fathi Atti and senior vice-president of global sales Matt Raos will also appear at the inquiry on Wednesday, as will representatives from the Australian Airports Association and airlines Bonza and Rex.

The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority has accused Qantas of protecting its commercial interests with its partnership with Emirates, with Qatar’s cap of 28 weekly flights compared with Emirates’ 84 and Etihad’s 63.

Transport Minister Catherine King has not elaborated on what “national interest” she used to deny the flights.

Flight caps could impede competition between airlines and ultimately punish consumers, Productivity Commission deputy chair Alex Robson told the inquiry on Tuesday.

Qantas was a “wannabe luxury consumer brand that really acts as a funnel for corporate greed”, Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said.

Nothing would change if the status quo remained intact, he said.