Nice back pedal Don.
For a moment I thought you were only thinking of the EK Flt Deck or trying to blind us with idealism from the MidEast.
I am not saying QF should be totally protected. But politicians must be aware of non-profitable & government backed airlines such as EK, cherry picking routes that sustain Australian jobs. That EK is further subsidised by a 21st century slave trade tilts the level playing field.
This, of course, balanced against tourism benefits.
If I was a politician I would give rights to Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. That would be fair and would bring trade advantages, aswell as levelling EK's Government backed expansion into Australian markets.