Travel question: Who do we claim from after our dream Australia trip was ruined?

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We missed our Ghan train to Alice Springs which cost us £2,000

Q A friend and I were due to fly from Hobart to Melbourne with Qantas at 6am on 17 March for a connecting Qantas flight to Adelaide so we could join the Ghan train to Alice Springs. The flight was delayed by over four hours due to a battery that would not charge. As soon as a problem became apparent I spoke to a member of the staff who said he would try to get us transferred to a Virgin Australia flight that would enable our journey to Adelaide to proceed. But authorisation was denied.

In the end Qantas had to fly an engineer in from Melbourne to resolve the issue. We missed the Ghan train, for which we had paid almost £2,000. Qantas have denied recompense. Our insurance will not settle the claim as Qantas provided accommodation in Melbourne for the night and then flew us to Alice Springs, the final destination for the train. Can you please advise on what we can claim, and from whom?

Name withheld