All six senior members of the new federal anti-corruption watchdog have accepted membership of the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge as calls mount for Anthony Albanese to be referred over the benefits he received from the airline.
Gift disclosure logs for National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) leadership positions show commissioners are all part of Australia’s ‘most exclusive club’, the Chairman’s Lounge membership, which is by invitation only from the Qantas chairman is extended.
This has raised concerns about how impartial the body would be in dealing with Qantas cases.
If Mr Albanese requested flight upgrades directly from former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, as reported in a new book, he may have breached the strict ministerial code of conduct that bans ministers from seeking “any advantage”.
Commissioner Paul Brereton declared Chairman’s Lounge membership in 2023, as did CEO Philip Reed and deputy commissioners Jaala Hinchcliffe and Nicole Rose, Sky News reported on Wednesday.
Deputy Commissioners Ben Gauntlett and Kylie Kilgour declared their membership in February 2024, meaning this happened after the NACC launched in July 2023.
NACC Commissioner Paul Brereton declared his Chairman’s Lounge membership in 2023
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his deputy Sussan Ley have said the Prime Minister should refer himself to the NACC over the 22 upgrades and additional Chairman’s Lounge memberships he received from Qantas.
An insight into the type of service offered by the Chairman’s Lounges was provided by a job posting on the job site Indeed for those at Canberra Airport.
The advert, placed by hotel group Accor which contracts Qantas to operate the lounges, said they were looking for ‘a highly motivated Food & Beverage Attendant to join our experienced and professional Front of House team’.
“This role will be based in the Chairman’s Lounge, a small fine dining restaurant and lounge area with an a la carte menu, designed by Neil Perry Consulting,” the advertisement said.
‘The service is discreet yet attentive, offering a friendly and efficient range of food and drink that meets the expectations of our passengers.’
The Qantas Chairman’s Lounge (photo Sydney Airport) is described as Australia’s most exclusive club
Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce proudly walks the red carpet with one arm around the Prime Minister and the other around his partner Jodie Haydon
A job posting for the Canberra Qantas Chairman’s Lounge sets out the requirements for serving the high and mighty
Applicants must have experience working in a gastronomic environment and the ability to work a seven-day rotating schedule.
The claims that Albanese received 22 economy class upgrades when booking a Qantas flight by personally requesting them from Mr Joyce have been made in a new book The Chairman’s Lounge by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston.
Aston alleged that Mr Albanese had contacted Mr Joyce directly while he held various parliamentary positions, including Transport Minister, to ask for special upgrades that only the CEO could dole out for himself or his family.
According to unnamed Qantas ‘insiders’, 11 of the 22 flights for which Mr Albanese received upgrades were ‘privately funded’ and included overseas trips to Rome, London, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
The book also revealed that Jodie Haydon, Mr Albanese’s partner, did not just have a ‘plus one’ Chairman’s Lounge membership.
Mr Albanese insisted on Tuesday that they were all “properly reported”.