‘Losing trust’: MPs say they’ll quit Chairman’s Lounge and Virgin VIP perks, too

Federal MPs are vowing to quit the VIP lounges at Qantas and Virgin after a furore over flight upgrades and special treatment, setting off a furious debate with others who want to retain access to the exclusive clubs.

Independent MP Allegra Spender said she would end her membership of Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge and Virgin’s Beyond Lounge and wanted all MPs to stop being given free flight upgrades because of the risk to public trust in parliament.

“Simply end the upgrades”: Wentworth MP Allegra Spender wants politicians to regain the public’s trust.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

But Liberal MP Warren Entsch and Labor MP Graham Perrett rejected her call and argued federal politicians had to travel long hours for parliamentary business and should not be denied the use of airport lounges for work.

Membership of the rival airlines’ top VIP tier is offered routinely to all federal MPs.

Spender triggered the row on Monday morning by issuing a statement saying she was giving up her VIP lounge membership and was asking Qantas and Virgin to not give upgrades to federal MPs or senators.

“The public is understandably losing trust in politicians to make those decisions impartially when they’re being given free upgrades from the companies they’re supposed to regulate,” she said.

“The best way to restore public trust is to simply end the upgrades.”

Cairns-based Entsch, who is the Liberal National Party MP for Leichhardt, which stretches to the tip of Cape York, said it was easier for Spender to give up the airline clubs because she could drive to Canberra from her Sydney electorate.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch says airport lounges are useful for MPs who have to travel great distances. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Entsch said it took him five to six hours in flights to get to Canberra, with a stop in Brisbane or Sydney, and he appreciated a lounge where he could work quietly.

“If she thinks this is going to buy her an extra vote, she’s dreaming,” he said.

“It’s all very well for her, but the poor buggers travelling from the NT or WA or Queensland appreciate the space. Sometimes there is work you can’t do sitting in the waiting area at the gate.”

Perrett, who represents the seat of Moreton in south Brisbane, said the argument over flight upgrades had gone too far.

“I can see the way the blood’s in the water, and that nobody will be satisfied until we’re riding our Malvern Stars to Canberra and paying for the bikes ourselves,” he said.

Perrett said he travelled to regional locations with parliamentary committees and used lounges for work, including online meetings.

‘Nobody will be satisfied until we’re riding our Malvern Stars to Canberra and paying for the bikes ourselves.’

Queensland Labor MP Graham Perrett

“It’s useful to have a place where you can do some work, and not be sitting at the Hungry Jack’s next to somebody who can look at your confidential documents or listen to your private conversation,” he said.

An extract of The Chairman’s Lounge by Joe Aston, published in Good Weekend, said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades over the past decade, and that he had liaised directly with former Qantas chief Alan Joyce over upgrades.

Albanese admitted last week that he spoke to Joyce about two non-commercial trips with Qantas but said these had also included Liberal ministers and media companies. He said he did not ever ask Joyce for an upgrade, and his office said this denial meant there were no calls, texts, emails or other communications with the former Qantas boss.

Asked on Monday morning whether anyone in his office had asked for an upgrade on his behalf, Albanese said: “Not to my knowledge, no.” The Coalition did not ask about the issue in question time.

Independent MP Helen Haines, who represents the regional Victorian seat of Indi, has written to Qantas and Virgin to cancel her membership of their VIP lounges.

“Acceptance of airline lounge membership is a matter for each individual member of parliament, but I wanted to remove any possibility of an actual or perceived conflict of interest in my work as a member of parliament,” she said.

Monique Ryan, the independent member for Kooyong in Melbourne, gave up her Chairman’s Lounge membership last year and said on Monday there was a good case to examine the issue. Kate Chaney, the independent member for Curtin in Western Australia, said she quit the Chairman’s Lounge on Monday and that flight upgrades were a “bad look” because of concerns about lobbying.

Another independent, Zoe Daniel, who holds the Melbourne seat of Goldstein, said she had a paid Qantas Club membership and the issue was a distraction from bigger issues.

“I’m not inclined to make a big deal about it but I have emailed Qantas to resign from the [Chairman’s] lounge. I think it’s an individual decision,” she said.

But fellow crossbencher Rebekha Sharkie, who holds the seat of Mayo in Adelaide, is planning to keep her lounge membership because it is useful for work.

Sophie Scamps, who entered parliament in 2022 as the member for Mackellar on Sydney’s northern beaches, said she flew economy to Canberra and never sought an upgrade.

“As for the Chairman’s Lounge, I only took up the offer after struggling to get work done at the gate for the first six months,” she said. “The reality is, this is a seven-day-a-week job and being in a quiet space allows me to get on with my work.”

Independent senator David Pocock gave up lounge access last year and supports the idea of a ban on soliciting free travel upgrades, especially for personal travel.

Tasmanian Independent Andrew Wilkie said his membership of the lounges had not deterred him from criticising Qantas and the government over airline pricing and Qatar’s access to Australia.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said MPs should not ask for upgrades.

“I think it is only fair that we shouldn’t be asking for upgrades. I think you should go into the same pot as every other punter does,” he said on Monday.

Department of Infrastructure secretary Jim Betts told a Senate estimates inquiry that senior public servants received membership of the Qantas lounge but were able to manage any conflict of interest.

“Also, in extremis, there are channels where our own staff could report any concerns about conflicts of interest not being appropriately managed,” Betts said when asked by Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie.

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