PM’s Qantas upgrades raise questions of good and bad governance

The Australian’s editorial rightly draws attention to the need for far more scrutiny of the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge created by Alan Joyce (“PM flight upgrades raise serious governance issues”, 31/10). Indeed, it appears that Joyce created his Chairman’s Lounge to exert influence over federal politicians, potentially triggering, as The Australian’s editorial points out, the commonwealth anti-corruption offence provisions in a range of circumstances involving the lounge: “with intention to influence”, as well as using it to influence many other individuals.

Perhaps Joyce has unwittingly done us all a great service by giving us a list of all the members, past and present, of Australia’s hidden aristocracy. Obviously, all the current NACC commissioners must now immediately cancel their memberships.

Peter Tredenick, Laidley, Qld

The statement from the PM’s office that its boss never directly sought an upgrade from Alan Joyce seems like a snow job (“ ‘No call to Joyce seeking upgrade’: PM’s carefully worded defence”, 31/10).

In any event it is irrelevant. The issue is not whether Anthony Albanese has declared his upgrades from Qantas, or who called whom when, but whether – as has been alleged – he was the beneficiary of upgrades for personal travel over the period that he held the transport portfolio during the Rudd-Gillard years. Provisions within the ministerial code are clear: to be the recipient of largesse from a party for whom you have direct ministerial responsibility is a breach. The introduction to the code is revealing: “The Albanese government is committed to integrity, honesty and accountability and ministers in my government will observe standards of probity, governance and behaviour worthy of the Australian people.”

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

Greens Labor’s shame

In her excellent analysis of the Queensland election, Peta Credlin provides the key take-outs (“ALP’s state strategy a sign of federal campaign to come”, 31/10). David Crisafulli took the cue from his federal counterpart, Peter Dutton, to preference Labor ahead of the Greens and, in doing so, successfully reduced the Greens’ seat count. While Anthony Albanese can be critical of the Greens, they were Labor’s “de facto” coalition partner, as Credlin argues.

The Prime Minister would never put the national interest first by preferencing the Liberals over the Greens, but will instead continue to back his own self-interest. Yet Albanese has the gall to declare himself a “conviction politician”.

It is Dutton who was the first Australian politician to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visited Israel to show Australia’s solidarity with, and support for, the Middle East’s lone democracy. Dutton’s opposition to the voice was principled, his primary concern being that it would “undermine our equality of citizenship”.

And on nuclear energy, Dutton has called for a sensible discussion on repealing the ban and letting the market decide. We have a political leader who walks his talk.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

Peta Credlin tips the full can on Labor’s lack of principles, which was so obviously on display at the Queensland election.

With their stance on Israel’s defensive war, the Greens are now fully revealed as a conservation party in name only, being the “watermelon party”, red at heart, yet Labor dares not preference them last. After all, the Greens turn a blind eye to Chris Bowen’s environmental damage on land and sea in pursuit of his wind and solar fantasies.

As Credlin maintains, Labor will never put the national interest ahead of electoral advantage, and we see this in the vital area of defence, where financial outlays fail to follow grandiose announcements.

The Coalition must maintain its principled stance by preferencing the Greens last but be prepared for a slew of election bribes and scare campaigns ahead of the federal election, as occurred so shamelessly in Queensland. It is to be hoped that next year Labor underestimates the intelligence and integrity of Australian voters, who will recognise principle ahead of profound opportunism.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

Bowen’s bluster

Energy Minister Chris Bowen claims that worsening heat events in Australia, including fire risk, floods and sea level rise can all be reduced by plans to drive down emissions. Globally, emissions are going up, not down. So to imply his policies could improve Australia’s weather is an exercise in disinformation.

Recent scientific research shows the best way to mitigate these effects of climate change will be through new technologies to reflect sunlight. But that is ruled out by Minister Bowen’s monomaniacal belief in emission reduction alone as the sole climate strategy.

Robert Tulip, Fraser, ACT