The Albanese government this week announced a review of competition policy. At the same time, it is not able to convincingly explain its decision to refuse Qatar Airways’ bid to expand its flights to Australia.
The case for the flights seems open and shut. Australians want to catch up, post-pandemic, on international travel. More competition would put downward pressure on prices.
Australia had a bad experience with the airline in 2020 when some Australian women were subjected to intimate searches after a newborn was found abandoned in Doha airport. But the government has ruled out this being the reason for the refusal.
