In agreement Mr. perspective...
National interest means in the interest of nationals. Unfortunately ideology got in the way..
Gas from Australia, costing Australians more than foreigners, surrendering fifth freedoms to Arab ME carriers, for nothing,
Qantas being privatised, yet retaining its own act of parliament shows that somewhere there is national interest, but perhaps a residual veto stake was a smarter move. A bit like Air NZ, in the national interest..
As General Counsel Johnson stated fiercely when amendments to the QSA were considered, JQ is not Qantas as defined in the Act so Qantas management spent every waking hour trying to get around the QSA, setting up shop in any Asian country that would have them...(for a big fee of course!)