Joyce’s appearance before a senate inquiry blocked by Labor, Greens

Joyce’s appearance before a senate inquiry blocked by Labor, Greens

Former Qantas boss Alan Joyce won’t have to face a senate inquiry after Labor and the Greens stymied a senate motion to force his appearance.

Joyce was originally requested to attend the senate inquiry into bilateral air service agreements where a number of aviation and political figures discussed the state of Australia aviation. The controversial former airline CEO did not appear as he was overseas at the time and refused to call in.

Victorian Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, who led the senate inquiry, proposed re-establishing the group to probe Joyce on his conduct at Qantas and his alleged influence he had on the government’s decision to block 28 additional flights per week for Qatar Airways into Australia.

Alan Joyce getting inquired by the senate on the cost of living earlier in the year

Joyce facing the senate was one of the ten recommendations given by the inquiry, alongside reviewing the Qatar Airways blocking, implementing consumer protection laws, investigate slot hoarding at Sydney Airport and resume the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) quarterly report into domestic aviation, which was announced yesterday.

McKenzie criticised the opponents of Joyce’s presence at an inquiry on ABC News, arguing that they were protecting the former Qantas boss.

“On the floor of the Senate today, the Labor Party, the Greens and David Pocock decided to continue the protection racket of Alan Joyce,” she said.

Alan Joyce has been riddled with controversy as he oversaw an array of anti-competitive and corrupt behaviour by the airline during his tenure.

The illegal sacking of nearly 1,700 ground workers, a class action over COVID credits, an ACCC investigation over selling tickets on already cancelled flights and allegations of slot hoarding at Sydney Airport has tarnished the reputation of the former CEO.

Joyce’s alleged lobbying of the government against additional capacity for Qatar Airways was also the topic of much controversy, something McKenzie and her fellow Coalition parliamentarians described as indicative of a “sweetheart deal” between the national carrier and the Labor government.

(Featured Image: Alan Joyce with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the announcement of Qantas’ ‘Yes’ endorsement)

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