Qantas Chairman’s Lounge: MPs on Q+A make embarrassing confession

All three current MPs who appeared on Monday’s episode of Q+A admitted they had retained exclusive memberships to the Qantas chairman’s lounge, despite criticizing the airline for alleged misconduct.

Just moments after declaring he was ‘trying not’ to fly Qantas as a ‘statement’ against the airline’s practices, National MP Kevin Hogan revealed he still had exclusive membership of the airline.

Individuals cannot purchase or use frequent flyer points to access the secret chairman’s lounge, but must be carefully selected by Qantas officials.

This comes less than two weeks after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced action against Qantas in the Federal Court of Australia for allegedly engaging in false, misleading or deceptive conduct.

It is claimed that the airline was advertising more than 8,000 flights due to depart between May and July 2022, which it had already canceled.

Q+A host Patricia Karvelas asked which politicians on the panel, including Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and independent member Kylea Tink, were members.

All three politicians promptly raised their hands. As does former NSW Prime Minister and High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell.

“A free drink and some old peanuts won’t stop me from confronting them if the behavior isn’t right,” says Ms Tink.

“There’s some good stuff in there, it’s better than old peanuts,” Karvelas shot back.

The question came after writer and youth advocate Yasmin Poole revealed she had paid $4,000 for a return ticket to Australia from Britain to appear on the panel.

“The nuts are nice, I hear in the Chairman’s Lounge,” Karvelas added.

The revelation came shortly after Watt called for more transparency from the airline.

The three ministers included independent Kylea Tink (pictured), Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and National MP Kevin Hogan

The Labor Agriculture Minister also criticized Qantas for outsourcing many of its functions, cutting wages and bringing in labor.

“That has had a direct impact on customers,” he said.

“It’s one of the reasons why so many flights are canceled and luggage is lost.”

Last month it was reported that Nathan, the 23-year-old son of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, had been given access to Qantas’ invitation-only Chairman’s Lounge, sparking debate about the government’s close relationship with Qantas.’

It was the start of a new series of problems facing Qantas, including the airline’s announcement of a $2.47 billion profit result while cutting costs and struggling to provide adequate customer service.

A class action lawsuit over refunds during the pandemic, an ACCC investigation into the sale of canceled fares, the refusal to pay $2.5 billion in government subsidies and a poor performance by then CEO Alan Joyce at a Senate hearing contributed to the airline’s problems.

The Qantas CEO then announced his immediate resignation on September 5 after a fortnight of anger towards the national carrier, bringing forward his retirement by two months.

Individuals cannot purchase or use frequent flyer points to access the secret chairman’s lounge (pictured), but must be hand-picked by Qantas officials

The airline recently came under heavy criticism after posting a $2.47 billion profit margin, leading to the early resignation of former CEO Alan Joyce (stock image)

After 22 years at the helm of the airline, Vanessa Hudson took over as new managing director and group director on Wednesday.

ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in a statement that Qantas’ behavior had likely affected “tens of thousands of people”.

‘We allege that Qantas’ conduct in continuing to sell tickets for canceled flights, and failing to inform ticket holders of canceled flights, has given customers less time to make alternative arrangements and may have resulted in them paying higher prices to to fly at a certain time without knowing that flight had already been canceled,” she said.

“Cancelled flights can have significant financial, logistical and emotional consequences for consumers.”