The Albanese Government launched a two-year competition review in August, with the goal of starting a new wave of competition reform to increase economic dynamism, productivity, and wage growth.
The review was initiated in response to growing concerns that large corporations are abusing their market position to destroy competitors and increase profits. The Australian Treasury, which will include former ACCC chief Rod Simms, will be in charge of it.
Hilariously, the announcement of the competition review coincided with Infrastructure Minister Catherine King’s decision to reject Qatar Airways’ bid to expand its flights to Australia.
The biggest opponent of Qatar Airways’ bid was Qantas, which used its political muscle to pressure the Albanese Government to reject it.
It was also revealed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s 23-year-old son was granted membership in the special Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, which offers him with free airline upgrades and unlimited champagne.
When queried about the membership, then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce just responded “I’ve been good mates with Albo for some time”.
Alan Joyce later posed with “good mate” Albo to announce that three Qantas planes had been repainted “Yes23” to support The Voice:
“There is no company in Australia that immediately says Australia like this brand of Qantas”, Albo said alongside Joyce.
On Sunday, The AFR revealed that the Albanese Government has refused to divulge emails concerning Qatar Airways’ proposal to boost weekly flights into Australia because it might cause “embarrassment, ridicule, or public criticism” for the local carrier and harm Australia’s diplomatic ties:
“The emails and briefings were sought by the Financial Review under freedom of information laws. The request was blocked by Ms King’s chief bureaucrat in charge of the International Aviation Branch, assistant secretary Jim Wolfe”, The AFR reports.
“Mr Wolfe said making Qantas’ emails public could constitute a breach of confidence because it could, among other factors, cause detriment, which “in this instance would involve: financial loss, embarrassment, exposure to ridicule or public criticism to the affected third party”.
“He went on to say there was “a reasonable expectation of damage to the international relations of the Commonwealth”.
“If this information were made publicly available, it would have the capacity to prejudice or undermine the department’s relations with other countries,” he said.”
Qantas exemplifies crony capitalism in action.
The airline’s business model depends on getting what it wants by leveraging the federal government to stifle competition. And the Albanese Government is at its beck and call.
The hypocrisy is also palpable. The Albanese Government says it wants a competitive economy and has launched a review to tighten down on monopolies and duopolies.
Yet, here it is running a blatant protection racket for an airline that uses its market power and political clout to ruthlessly exploit Australian consumers.
We are witnessing the same types of corruption under Albo’s Labor that we experienced in the dying years of the prior Coalition Government.
