Prime Minister Albanese questioned over Qatar Airways decision

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been grilled in parliament over the controversial decision to block Qatar Airways flights.

The controversial decision to block Qatar Airways adding more flights into Australia has been seized upon by the opposition during a fiery session of question time on Monday.

In questioning from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Anthony Albanese was asked to detail discussions he or his office had with Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce or other senior executives, over the Qatar Airways decision.

“Qatar Airways can add more seats into Australia today. Right now. Right now,” the Prime Minister said.

“So (Qatar Airways) are certainly welcome to do so, and they can fly as many flights as they like into Adelaide, into Gold Coast, into Avalon, into Hobart.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says ‘global aviation is not a free-for-all’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“My government supports competition, but global aviation is not a free-for-all.”

Mr Albanese also defended his record when he served as transport minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments to allow Qatar to add further capacity into Australia.

“Qatar – when I was a minister – had their access doubled from seven to 14 flights in February 2009,” Mr Albanese added.

“There’s an aviation green paper process under way to make sure that we get all of the settings right.

“Just as, when I was the minister, I put in place measures of the green paper and white paper which set Australia up with the most competitive aviation market in the world, bar none.”

Mr Albanese denied that he had received any lobbying from Qantas on Qatar Airways’ application.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has defended his taxpayer-funded RAAF flights. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Marles under fire over VIP flights

Defence Minister Richard Marles has come under fire over revelations he had racked up a multimillion-dollar bill for taxpayer-funded flights on RAAF planes.

Opening question time on Monday, opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie asked Mr Marles “whether or not the minister has taken golf clubs, a putter, a driver etc” on any of his special purpose aircraft flight.

The Defence Minister has spent $3.6m on taxpayer-funded RAAF flights since April last year.

“Let me be very clear – every place I have been, everything I have done, has been in pursuit of my duties as the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence on behalf of this country,” Mr Marles said.

“I stand absolutely by every flight I have ever taken on the special-purpose aircraft or, for that matter, any flight that I have taken commercially.

Mr Marles later revealed opposition leader Peter Dutton had lodged a number of requests to use the same RAAF jet which Mr Dutton had criticised him for using.

“As the now-Minister for Defence, my office has logged numerous requests from the Leader of the Opposition about him going on special-purpose aircraft,” Mr Marles said.

“Including in the last six weeks, two times at least in writing, to go to a game of the Matildas.”

Tony Burke has introduced legislation to close loopholes in workplace legislation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Burke foreshadows new IR Bill

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke also took an opportunity in question time to spruik his Closing Loopholes Bill, which will be introduced to parliament later on Monday.

“This government will introduce legislation designed to close the loopholes that undercut wages and conditions in this country,” Mr Burke said in response to a question from Labor backbencher Cassandra Fernando.

The proposed changes include new regulations to the gig economy, cracking down on labour hire, making it easier for casual workers to convert to permanent roles, and increasing penalties for wage underpayments.

“Those loopholes have been hanging around for years. The step to close them happens immediately after question time today,” Mr Burke added.

Community pharmacists from across Australia have gathered outside parliament to oppose the government’s 60-day dispensing policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Scuffle in parliamentary gallery

An alleged altercation in the public gallery which saw parliamentary staff subject to verbal abuse by a rogue group of community pharmacists has marked the closure of Question Time.

About 2000 community pharmacists opposed to the government’s 60-day dispensing policy were protesting outside parliament on Monday morning.

Leader of the House, Tony Burke notified the Speaker Milton Dick that an altercation had occurred, and asked him to investigate if a member of parliament had signed them in.

“It has been reported that some of the parliamentary staff have been subjected to verbal abuse by members of the public galleries,” Mr Burke told the chamber.

Mr Dick said he would review the footage and report to the House if any action was required.

In a statement, the Pharmacy Guild stated that they were not involved in the altercation despite its campaign against 60 day dispensing.

“The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is not and has never been involved with the organisation of events in Canberra today,” a Guild spokesman said.

“The Guild remains committed to resolving this matter as soon as possible and encourage the Government to do the same.”