ANZ’s Elliott says government’s Qantas-Qatar block is ‘disturbing’

Liam WalshReporter

Aug 29, 2023 – 3.44pm

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Key Points

ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott has questioned government’s reasons for blocking Qatar Airways.
He argues ANZ deal for Suncorp would not hurt competition.
And says regulation and risk aversion makes banking preserve of the rich.

The head of big bank ANZ has said the federal government’s intervention in blocking Qatar Airways flights to keep the national carrier Qantas profitable was “disturbing”.

“I don’t understand why one company is given that support. This is a … private enterprise company, I thought. And I’m struggling to think of a parallel where that would be the case,” ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott said on Tuesday.

Liam Walsh writes on investigations and companies with The Australian Financial Review. He has won multiple media awards, worked in Japan and is now based in Brisbane.