Issue has triggered outcry over what some see as a bid to curry favour with the Albabese government.
Invitation-only lounges have triggered an outcry over what some see as an attempt to curry favour with the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The controversy over the lounges was sparked by a new book about Qantas, which claimed that Mr Albanese, in his former roles as transport minister and opposition leader, contacted former Qantas head Alan Joyce to request flight upgrades for himself and family members.But the allegation, along with revelations that Mr Albanese and other MPs accepted multiple flight upgrades, have added to longstanding concerns about whether successive governments have unfairly protected Qantas.
Professor Rico Merkert from the University of Sydney, an expert on Australia’s airline sector, told The Straits Times it was “not impossible” that political perks helped Qantas secure sector-wide support and favours such as the Covid-19 funding. According to the new book, The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story Of How Qantas Sold Us Out, by Mr Joe Aston, a columnist who formerly worked for Qantas, the airline’s sweeteners for politicians have also helped it win domestic business.
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