Opposition leader Peter Dutton ordered the Nationals to walk back calls for new powers to split Qantas from its budget airline Jetstar after the push caused a rift within the Coalition and opened it up to renewed criticism it was running a populist, anti-business agenda.
The call by opposition transport spokeswoman, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie, for the government to consider divestiture powers to boost competition in the aviation industry angered Liberal MPs.
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Tom McIlroy was the Financial Review’s Canberra bureau chief.
Ayesha de Kretser is a senior reporter with The Australian Financial Review covering the aviation and tourism sectors. She has previously reported on banking, mining and commodity markets. Connect with Ayesha on Twitter. Email Ayesha at ayesha.dekretser@afr.com.au
