Speaking on Today this week, Mr Shorten, now the Federal Minister for Government Services, seemed to agree with host Karl Stefanovic’s description of Australia’s airports as a “basket case” beset by “last minute cancellations [and] delays that stretch into the hours and days”.

The Turkish flag carrier is hoping to fly daily to Sydney and Melbourne, totalling 14 flights per week, as reported in The Australian Financial Review, but needs federal government approval as well as “fifth freedoms” that would allow it to fly from Melbourne and Sydney to Singapore.

The Flying Kangaroo has taken out a combination of radio and full-page newspaper ads as it pushes customers to use around $400 million in unclaimed credits accrued during the COVID-19 shutdowns, and says more than $1 billion in credits has already been claimed across Qantas and Jetstar.

Australian Defence Force personnel have begun monitoring the Chinese intelligence ship pictured as it observes Exercise Talisman Sabre, which is in full swing after its official launch on 21 July with an opening ceremony onboard HMAS Canberra.