Transport Minister Catherine King has faced intense questioning over why she rejected a bid by Qatar Airways to add 21 flights per week to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on top of the 28 weekly services it now offers.
Asked if the treatment of the women at Hamad International Airport in the Qatari capital Doha in 2020 was the reason for her decision, Ms King told reporters on Thursday: "It was the context of the decision that I made."
However, Ms King said there was no "one factor" that she would point to that swayed her decision "one way or the other".
"In making this decision, I did have a national interest, not commercial interests at play when I was making that decision," she said.
The transport minister confirmed she had consulted with ministerial colleagues, and considered stakeholder views.
Ms King also confirmed she made her decision on July 10 and that she informed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before it was made public on July 18.
Thirteen Australian women were detained by Qatari authorities who were searching for the mother of a baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom.
Five of the women are taking legal action.
Asked if Ms King had consulted him,Trade Minister Don Farrell said he couldn't "specifically" say if he had a conversation with her.
"I'm aware her department made it clear they were dealing with this issue and going to make a decision," he told ABC radio.
The opposition has accused the government of protecting Qantas from competition by denying Qatar Airway's application for extra flights into Australian international airports.
Liberal senator James Paterson criticised the government for not being transparent.
"I'm deeply sceptical about this latest explanation, because if this was the real reason why didn't she just say so the first time she was asked when this controversy first emerged weeks ago," he told Sky News.
The government has resisted calls for the decision to be revoked.
Ms King told parliament on Wednesday she "routinely met with the chief executives of all of the airlines, airports and peak bodies," but those who lobbied her over the Qatar decision were from Virgin Australia.
"I was well aware of different stakeholders' views when I took the decision," she said.
Qatar Airways went to the coalition government's transport minister Michael McCormack in 2018 with a bid for an extra seven routes.
The government took four years to decide on allowing the flights.
The Qatar Airways decision will be examined by a Senate inquiry initiated by the coalition.
The committee will meet on Thursday and is expected to invite submissions from past and present Qantas chief executives, other airlines, airports, economists, the Qatari ambassador, the consumer watchdog and the Productivity Commission.
The committee's report is expected by October.
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