Facing questions from Coalition, transport minister also says she spoke to Qantas before ruling but to her recollection it was on an unrelated matter
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The transport minister, Catherine King, has admitted she spoke with Virgin Australia and a lobbyist for the Qatar government before making her decision to block the gulf carrier’s request to fly an extra 21 services to major Australian cities.
The Albanese government has been called into question by industry groups, the opposition and crossbenchers over its decision to not grant the extra flights to Qatar Airways, which it argues was made in the national interest.
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