Jacinta Allan, Brad Battin among pollies flying high at Qantas Chairmans Lounge
Victoria’s Premier and Opposition Leader are among a string of politicians who have accepted invites to the elite Qantas Chairmans Lounge, despite the furore over federal MPs being members of the “most exclusive club in the country”.
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Premier Jacinta Allan, Liberal Leader Brad Battin and state ministers are among the Victorian politicians who have an exclusive invite-only Qantas Chairmans Lounge membership.
Analysis of the Victorian parliament’s register of interests reveals politicians have continued to accept the free memberships to the lounge which former Qantas leader Alan Joyce once dubbed “the most exclusive club in the country”.
People cannot purchase or use frequent flyer points to gain access to this secretive chairman lounge, but instead are hand-picked by Qantas officials with business leaders, famous faces and politicians being the primary members.
Ms Allan confirmed she continued to hold a membership even after the furore over federal politicians being members and Qantas being investigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for selling seats on flights that had already been cancelled, which was later settled for $100m.
Former Liberal Leader John Pesutto was also a member.
The Herald Sun can reveal that Brad Battin was personally invited to join the exclusive club after he took over the leadership in December, although the gift is not listed on the latest registers tabled in parliament as it occurred after the reporting period.
Membership to the luxury lounges is highly sought after but only handed out at the discretion of Qantas officials.
The club is accessed through a discreet unsigned door at all major Australian airports and members have free access to a buffet of delectable delights and also an a la carte menu.
They can have free champagne, spirits and steak dinners and also have access to showers in the luxurious bathrooms.
In response to questions about Ms Allan’s membership a Victorian government spokesperson said: “The Premier has disclosed her registered interests and memberships – as is appropriate”.
Labor’s deputy leader Ben Carroll also declared he is a member.
An array of ministers also has access to the elite club, including Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for transport infrastructure Danny Pearson, Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos, Transport Minister Melissa Horne, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins, Small Business Minister Natalie Suleyman and Agriculture Minister Ros Spence.
Notably some ministers did not claim to be members, including Minister for Energy & Resources Lily D’Ambrosio, newly appointed Local Government Minister Nick Staikos and Minister for Housing Harriett Shing.
Backbencher Luba Grigorovitch – who is the partner of BGH private equity firm executive Ben Gray was also a member of the Qantas Lounge, and declared she’s also a member of Virgin Australia’s exclusive Beyond Lounges which opened in 2022 and features leather clad and oak timber walls, plush Chesterfield-style armchairs and a la carte dining with a menu boasting cheese boards and signature truffle fries.
Similar to the Qantas Lounge, members enter through a discrete unmarked door at the airport and are greeted by highly trained staff.
Originally published as Jacinta Allan, Brad Battin among pollies flying high at Qantas Chairmans Lounge
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