PM Abbott wants Qantas to stay 'strong' PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says he has not seen a specific proposal on the future of Qantas, but wants the airline to be "strong and continuing." Treasurer Joe Hockey has called for a national debate on whether to loosen the airline's foreign ownership rules after Qantas called for urgent changes to remain competitive. Mr Abbott said no specific proposal had come forward, but there were some basic principles that should be upheld. "Qantas is a great Australian icon and the government wants to see a strong and continuing Qantas," he said. And what we want to see is a strong and competitive aviation sector here in Australia.