Anthony Albanese is suspected of using his connections with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to directly request free upgrades on international and domestic flights, leaving politicians and big business in a cozy corner. The relationship is under scrutiny again.
The claims, detailed in a new book by journalist Joe Aston, draw attention to the lavish perks enjoyed by almost all politicians, including free membership to Qantas’ exclusive Chairman’s Lounge. are.
Peter Dutton called the revelation “bizarre”. But disclosure forms show that the vast majority of politicians from all walks of life and civil servants heading up the most powerful government departments have accepted memberships in Qantas’ luxury airport lounges that money can’t buy. – Reportedly, Joyce once described it as a “lounge.” The most exclusive club in the country.”
What are Qantas and Albanese’s claims?
The Albanian revelations were revealed in former Australian Financial Review columnist Aston’s book The Chairman’s Lounge. The documents show Mr Albanese declared upgrades to around 20 Qantas flights between 2009 and 2019 while serving in a variety of roles, including transport minister, shadow transport minister and opposition leader, according to the documents, which appear on parliament’s register of interests. listed. Some of the flights were declared “privately funded” and went to destinations such as Rome, London, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
“According to Qantas insiders, Albanese planned to liaise directly with Joyce regarding personal travel,” Aston reported.
Albanese on Sunday downplayed the reports, saying, “Everything has been declared and that’s why it’s being reported.”
Mr Dutton raised concerns about Mr Albanese’s dealings with Mr Joyce when he was minister and shadow minister for aviation.
“If you’re the Minister of Transport and you pick up the phone on one of the most important stakeholders in your portfolio and ask for a free upgrade…I don’t know of anyone else who has done that,” Dutton said. .
Which flights are available to politicians?
All federal politicians have access to taxpayer-funded travel, including air travel, for parliamentary and political activities. This includes traveling to and from Canberra for weeks on end, flying around the constituency for local business, and flying around the country to attend meetings and carry out ministerial duties. .
The Treasury Department stipulates that state politicians and their employees “must choose the lowest effective fare” on a case-by-case basis. But AFR reported last year that Qantas received 80% of its spending on domestic flights from federal politicians, judges and some government departments, even though the national carrier’s fares were often higher. .
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The federal government’s Aviation White Paper, published in August, announced a review of the government’s travel purchasing policy to consider whether new rules could “better support competition”.
What travel benefits can politicians get?
The issue is less clear here. While it is not uncommon for politicians to be able to receive flight upgrades, they are required to declare these upgrades and other gifts and entertainment in their financial interests register.
All politicians will also be offered membership to Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge and Virgin’s equivalent lounge, known as Beyond. Access to luxury lounges, available only by invitation at the airline’s discretion, provides politicians and other powerful figures with private airport clubs, often offering showers, fine dining, and comfortable amenities. Masu.
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Aston’s claim is that Albanese sought and received a privately-funded ticket upgrade that included flights to overseas holiday destinations. Mr Albanese said on Sunday that 10 of the flights were Labour-funded and took place “during the leadership campaign that I ran with Bill Shorten, and that both Qantas and Virgin Airways were supported by myself and as part of that. “We’ve upgraded people who were traveling as travellers.”
Other politicians also regularly announce upgrades. Mr Dutton revealed in December that he and his wife, Kiriley, would receive a “flight upgrade courtesy of Qantas” on their flight from Brisbane to Sydney. Green Party leader Adam Bunt revealed on his list that there are “occasional upgrades from economy class to business class on Virgin and Qantas”. Labor Minister Murray Watt defended the Albanians on the radio, pointing out that Mr Bunt “has not declared every individual flight, he just talks about receiving upgrades from time to time”.
Mr McKenzie criticized Albanese on Monday, vowing to give Qantas flight upgrades and free Rex flights in 2018.
Who can use the Chairman’s Lounge?
Nearly every politician in Congress, including Albanese, Bunt and Dutton, has declared their acceptance of Chairman’s Lounge and Beyond Club memberships, with a few notable exceptions.
Listed declarations show Green Party politicians including Labor’s Tony Sheldon, Max Chandler-Mazer, Stephen Bates and Barbara Pocock, independents David Pocock and Monique Ryan, and Liberal Party’s Melissa Macintosh and Michaelia Cash do not have access rights.
This benefit is also enjoyed by senior government officials and civil servants, including Glyn Davies, Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Treasury Secretary Stephen Kennedy. Home Secretary Stephanie Foster. Australian Border Force Chief Michael Outram. Australian Taxation Commissioner Rob Hefferen. A number of other department secretaries and senior executives were also included, according to an online gift registry.
Disclosure rules for these public servants were updated last year amid intense speculation about the influence Qantas wields through access to the Chairman’s Lounge.
Qantas had refused to release the lounge’s membership list after reports from the AFR that Albanese’s son Nathan had been offered membership. The prime minister declined to comment on these reports at the time, saying, “My son is not a public figure. He is a young man trying to make his own way in the world.”
On Sunday, Albanese made his first substantive comment on his son’s extended access to the chairman’s lounge, describing him as a “plus one” to the exclusive club.
Referring to his 2019 divorce from wife Carmel Tebbutt, Albanese said, “My relationship is over… and my plus one is now my son.”
“People get a plus.”
In October 2022, Mr Albanese revealed free membership to the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge to his “spouse” and partner Jody Haydon in his first stakeholder update since becoming Prime Minister.
