AFR's Joe Aston goes BAM!

[kpc]

The PM responds to the situation today:

Albanese defends Qantas allegations (The Oz on-line)



Then the question becomes: Does Qantas allow every CL member to invite someone else, if not their spouse/partner? Or was the PM being done a special favour?

In fact are all CL members able to ask spouses/partners?

It's OK...it's not a bribe as I have declared it! Wow....and I hope everyone convicted of receiving a bribe in an official public position remembers this!

Post automatically merged: Sunday at 7:45 PM

Be careful not to turn this thread into a one sided political attack.

Ref: Flying high: How politicians travel in style

Both sides are equally bad!

 

[SeaWolf]

Joe Aston's book is released today. Available from all good book stores, as they say.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Chairmans-Lounge-inside-story-Qantas-ebook/dp/B0D7NPDKBY

 

[bam71]

$16 on kindle

 

[SYD]

Joe Aston's book is released today. Available from all good book stores, as they say.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Chairmans-Lounge-inside-story-Qantas-ebook/dp/B0D7NPDKBY

I’ll wait until it’s here…..

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes, the irony is that the PM and other important ministers rarely use it because they’re flying RAAF VIP.

Explains all the freebies then....

as long as MPs declare it and don’t let it influence their work

Ah right, politicians are straight up and down honest as a.....

I don’t think Qantas is a drug…

The drug addiction, side effect analogy works very well

 

[offshore171]

Sounds like an intriguing book.

In the question of upgrades, I don't see any significant concern with politicians receiving the occasional OpUp, or even unsolicited goodwill upgrades.

However if the politicians are soliciting upgrades, on leisure travel for themselves and family, that's completely out of order. If they hold a ministry or shadow ministry that has association with the aviation sector, that's worse again. These upgrades can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Politicians should know better than to ask. Qantas should know better than to accede.

In my work, this scenario is quite literally part of our anti corruption training.

I suspect quite a few of them have done this. Wouldn't be surprised to see more names come out.

 

[drron]

Maybe we should just make a list of those pollies sitting in Y with us. I have seen a couple.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Maybe we should just make a list of those pollies sitting in Y with us. I have seen a couple.

Nah. That would be a political statement.

 

[CaptJCool]

Maybe we should just make a list of those pollies sitting in Y with us. I have seen a couple.

They sit in Y cause there’s no J seats left when they book
Haha
SES Public servants

 

[jase05]

Nine are now claiming that Albo failed to declare thousands of dollars of free flight upgrades provided to his then wife whilst he was transport minister. This include free upgrades for her on flights to Europe, LA and Honolulu.

 

[kpc]

Nine are now claiming that Albo failed to declare thousands of dollars of free flight upgrades provided to his then wife whilst he was transport minister. This include free upgrades for her on flights to Europe, LA and Honolulu.

Airbus Albo needs to clean his image (if possible) before the next election before there is a crash landing.

Getting more interesting...
....Albanese had not disclosed multiple flight upgrades for his former wife, Carmel Tebbutt, during their relationship despite transparency rules covering spouses. Tebbutt disclosed them to NSW parliament during her time as a state Labor....

‘Strange arrangements’: Coalition demands answers on PM’s Qantas upgrades

One Labor MP publicly backed his leader, arguing Coalition MPs were being hypocritical, as others acknowledged Albanese was under pressure.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Wonder why this is only coming out now.

 

[justinbrett]

Sky are reporting that Tony Abbot was offered several upgrades around the time QF was seeking financial support (circa 2013) but he declined them all.

 

[kpc]

Wonder why this is only coming out now.

Because the book came out today?

 

[RooFlyer]

Because the book came out today?

And the book contains more than his columns ...

 

[antycbr]

Well if you wonder why there are never any award seats available, here’s your answer.

It’s one thing to accept a CL space available upgrade, it’s very different to solicit one.

 

[Pushka]

Have no issue with anyone, politician or otherwise, receiving unsolicited op ups. We all enjoy those. Asking for them when in a position to influence their operational concerns? Nup.

 

[antycbr]

Have no issue with anyone, politician or otherwise, receiving unsolicited op ups. We all enjoy those. Asking for them when in a position to influence their operational concerns? Nup.

I’m waiting for someone to use the Albanese defence when appearing at ICAC.

 

[Rabs97]

Sky are reporting that Tony Abbot was offered several upgrades around the time QF was seeking financial support (circa 2013) but he declined them all.

I wouldn’t trust Sky ‘News’ on any issue really, but especially this one as don’t forget Sky got canned as QF’s broadcaster some time back. That station is petty enough for revenge.

 

[justinbrett]

I wouldn’t trust Sky ‘News’ on any issue really, but especially this one as don’t forget Sky got canned as QF’s broadcaster some time back. That station is petty enough for revenge.

Well it came directly from his chief of staff.

I guess if you want to be partisan you can have that view but we aren't supposed to be discussing partisan politics on AFF. My comment is relevant to the thread.

They also said Bridget McKenzie said she'd never accepted an upgrade either except they uncovered the register where she did declare an upgrade, so she has conceded that point.