Qantas Chairman’s lounge membership in spotlight again as bureaucrats’ 88 flights revealed

Eight senior bureaucrats have been revealed to have Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership, having taken almost 90 flights in a year. One senator has called out the “deeply concerning” gifts.

Exclusive: Eight senior bureaucrats in Anthony Albanese’s Prime Minister and Cabinet department with membership to the hyper-exclusive Qantas Chairman’s Lounge enjoyed almost 90 flights over a year.

Now an independent senator saying the continued acceptance of gifts by politicians and staff was “deeply concerning”.

Documents released under Freedom of Information laws reveal the senior officials with invitation-only exclusive lounge membership took 88 flights with Qantas between February 2024 and February 2025, far outweighing the number of flights taken with competing airlines.

The documents show outgoing PM & C Secretary Professor Glyn Davis, deputy secretaries, Blair Exell, Martin Hehir, Graham Fletcher and Nadine Williams, aged care quality and safety commissioner Liz Hefren-Webb, and executive director of the office for women Padma Raman all had access to the invitation only lounge.

Mr Exell, Ms Hefren-Webb, Ms Williams and Mr Hehir also had access to Virgin’s exclusive Beyond Lounges, with Mr Exell not taking any flights with either Qantas or Virgin during the FOI period.

Eight senior bureaucrats with membership to the hyper-exclusive Qantas Chairman’s Lounge enjoyed almost 90 flights over a year. Picture: Supplied

The document shows PM & C staff skewed toward taking Qantas flights, with 88 flights logged between the eight bureaucrats on Qantas over the year, compared to 21 with Virgin and three with Jetstar/Rex.

Ms Raman took the second most flights with Qantas, with 25 trips costing taxpayers $18,981.18 from 2024 to 2025.

outgoing PM & C Secretary Professor Glyn Davis was gifted membership to the lounge. Picture: Supplied

Padma Raman, executive director of the office for women, was gifted membership. Picture: Supplied

A member of the department whose name was redacted from the FOI documents took the most flights at 26, but at a smaller cost of $5,671.60.

It’s not suggested any bureaucrat named didn’t comply with disclosure rules.

Revelations last year that Mr Albanese received at least 22 flight upgrades during his career, as well as claims he asked then-Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to extend chairman’s lounge membership to his son Nathan, triggered a political firestorm over the relationship between politicians, senior public servants and Qantas.

Revelations last year that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese received at least 22 flight upgrades during his career, along with allegations he asked to extend Chairman’s Lounge membership to his son sparked a political uproar. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The claims were contained in journalist Joe Aston’s book The Chairman’s Lounge, with Mr Albanese saying last year he had declared all upgrades.

Independent ACT Senator David Pocock said he was against the country’s decision-makers still accepting the gifts.

“It is deeply concerning to me that both parliamentarians and senior public servants with influence … continue to accept membership as a gift,” he said.

PM & C Deputy Secretary, Graham Fletcher was gifted membership. Picture: Martin Ollman

A spokeswoman for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet didn’t respond to questions including whether senior staff would relinquish their membership or why their memberships were necessary.

“The department’s Gifts and Benefits Policy requires all staff to disclose gifts or benefits greater than $100,” she said.

“This includes invitation-only airline memberships, which are also declared publicly on the gifts and benefits register.”

M & C Deputy Secretary Nadine Williams appears before a Senate Estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: AAP

On the high-proportion of Qantas flights taken by senior staff, she said staff are required to adhere to the department’s travel policy, which includes selecting the lowest practical fare “that suits ... business needs, irrespective of personal preference”.

Qantas declined to comment on Chairman’s lounge memberships.

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Originally published as Qantas Chairman’s lounge membership in spotlight again as bureaucrats’ 88 flights revealed