AAP
Anderson downplays Qantas talk
CANBERRA|Published: Monday August 12, 2:30 PM
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister John Anderson played down expectations cabinet would on Tuesday announce a decision on whether to change foreign ownership limits on Qantas.
Australia's national carrier has been pushing the government to scrap or change a law stopping foreign companies from owning more than 49 per cent of Qantas.
But the calls have met resistance from within government ranks.
Mr Anderson said he would not comment on the issue while it was still being discussed by cabinet.
"We will form a right view keeping in mind the need to ensure that Qantas grows strongly into the future as a major Australian employer and something of, to use the word, an icon," he told reporters.
Asked whether a statement on the issue could be released after cabinet, Mr Anderson said: "I am not committing myself to that.
"There are a number of quite complicated issues here that need to be sorted through.
"It is in cabinet's hands as to whether we conclude (on Tuesday) or whether we don't conclude."