Qantas Denies Colluding With Government Over ‘Yes’ Campaign

Photo Credit: Qantas

Qantas has rebuffed speculation that its support for The Voice referendum is tied to a government decision to block Qatar Airways flights.

In a Senate inquiry submission, the airline said any suggestion the government’s call on Qatar is tied to the Qantas Yes campaign has “no basis.”

Qantas said it has a “long history” supporting indigenous reconciliation and constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“The suggestion that the Government’s decision on the QCAA application may have been related to Qantas’ support for the Voice and the Yes23 campaign has no basis in fact and ignores Qantas’ longstanding commitment to indigenous reconciliation,” Qantas said (pdf).

“We are proud to support both the Yes23 campaign and the Uluru Dialogue and see the referendum as a positive step in closing the gap and for advancing reconciliation in Australia.”

Qantas had previously faced questioning from Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie about the Yes campaign support amid innuendos of a “quid pro quo” between the airline and government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking as QANTAS unveil their Yes23 livery being carried on some of their aircraft at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 14, 2023. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Under the headline “Quid Pro Pro,” Qantas highlighted that the airline publicly supported the Uluru statement from the heart, calling for voice, treaty and truth in 2019.

In 2014, Qantas also planted a recognise campaign logo on one of its planes to provide a public display for reconciliation.

The airline noted it had reaffirmed its support for The Voice vote with three planes that display the Yes23 logo.

The national carrier has agreed to provide in-kind flights for the Yes23 campaign.

Qantas also weighed in on the Qatar application for extra flights into Australia.

“In terms of inbound tourism, Qatar Airways carries a disproportionately high number of outbound Australian-based passengers. On that basis, suggestions that granting the QCAA application would have materially advanced the Australian tourism industry’s recovery are overstated,” Qantas said.

However, Qatar said its operations to Australia’s main gateways are restricted to 28 weekly frequencies with a cap of seven weekly flights per gateway and an extra seven flights under the regional package.

“This is the lowest capacity entitlement awarded to any airline from the Gulf and the wider Middle East currently operating into Australia. In contrast, Qantas’ partner Emirates Airlines is allowed to operate 105 weekly flights, Etihad Airways can operate another 56 weekly flights and Air Arabia can operate 7 weekly flights,” Qatar said in its submission (pdf).

Transport Minister Catherine King has so far declined calls to front the Senate inquiry into the  government’s decision on Qatar.

The Commonwealth Bilateral Air Service Agreements Committee has held multiple hearings and received 149 submissions.

A final report will be prepared by Oct. 9.

Early voting on The Voice Continues

Meanwhile, early voting on The Voice referendum is continuing at polling stations in Australia today.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has received a million views on a social media post relating to people voting twice.

“If someone votes at two different polling places within their electorate, and places their formal vote in the ballot box at each polling place, their vote is counted,” the AEC posted on X.

However, the AEC clarified that multiple voting is an electoral fraud offence under Section 339 of the Electoral Act.