AFR's Joe Aston goes BAM!

[TheRealTMA]

Extremely doubtful of this figure - where did you see/hear it?

Post automatically merged: Today at 8:09 PM

Never mind, I found the quote - it's over 6000 flights lifetime.

Anthony Albanese says he didn’t seek flight upgrades from anyone at Qantas

Prime minister’s office says it took six days to respond clearly because they had to check decades of communications between Albanese and airline

www.theguardian.com

I’m not surprised on this figure over so many years. They spend half their lives on planes. So 22 upgrades out of 6000 for any LTP member is actually very poor performance by Qantas.

 

[jase05]

I noted commentary that the PM has made more than 6000 flights in the last decade,

I know he flies a lot but 600 flights per year sounds impossible.
I’m thinking it’s a typo

 

[DejaBrew]

I know he flies a lot but 600 flights per year sounds impossible.
I’m thinking it’s a typo

I read this as 6000 flights across all airlines rather than it just being Qantas. So considering hitting the campaign trail, various connections from point A to B etc etc over that time, I can certainly see him hitting 600 flights per year on average.

 

[justinbrett]

I noted commentary that the PM has made more than 6000 flights in the last decade, for any flier, that would get the airline cosying up, regardless of duty statement.

The bulk would be on RAAF

 

[Bundy Bear]

Currently out of stock despatched in 1 to 2 months

 

[p--and--t]

I’m not surprised on this figure over so many years. They spend half their lives on planes. So 22 upgrades out of 6000 for any LTP member is actually very poor performance by Qantas.

I thought the same. Id be p….d if I only got 22.

Ive flown around 1/2 that and had a lot more upgrades (in the good ol days).

 

[Pushka]

Yes closer scrutiny should be applied if the person in question is a direct decision maker in the respective party in airline policy or the head of the party or there is a lack of transparency

And that is exactly what this is about. Not the upgrades. Pretty much everyone here has received one. Last time I checked my CV I don’t seem to have any influence over their operatilons. Nor expected return favour. Which is the differentiator. The pertinent negative.

 

[love_the_life]

Given just about all of the CBR pollies are frequent fliers and a large percentage would be plats from their travel then as a natural course they would come to the attention of any airline that they frequented and get various perks offered. We all seem to get upset becaue its a pollie getting a perk but not if the plat FF (incl AFFers) has a different career.

Yes closer scrutiny should be applied if the person in question is a direct decision maker in the respective party in airline policy or the head of the party or there is a lack of transparency but otherwise IMHO its just par for the course for FFers.

I noted commentary that the PM has made more than 6000 flights in the last decade, for any flier, that would get the airline cosying up, regardless of duty statement.

Edit: correction- as noted by @sudoer its lifetime count.

agree - how many people here for example have had free upgrades, including me? I seem to recall hearing about a lot over the years. IMO it is a beat up - if upgrades were not solicited from the head of the company as stated why is it such a big deal if pollies or senior APS get upgrades from time to time? I am sure other business or well known people have experienced the same. All this ranting about the cesspool of Canberra.
First and last comment - bored now.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I‘ve seen mods delete posts here that would make more professional articles than his.

Our moderators' censorial expertise is so effective that, were there such a distinction, one could not convincingly argue they would be denied consideration for a Nobel Prize in Censorship.

While you may harbour personal reservations about the book's author, it's undeniable that his work has compelled several cabinet members, the Prime Minister, and the opposition to revisit and address the initial claims. His writings have also sparked renewed scrutiny of Qantas' management practices and the ineffectiveness of its governance and board processes.

I hope this scrutiny will enhance government decision-making transparency regarding airline policy and related approvals. If that can be achieved the author has truly made a difference.

 

[sudoer]

I’m not surprised on this figure over so many years. They spend half their lives on planes. So 22 upgrades out of 6000 for any LTP member is actually very poor performance by Qantas.

6000 flights after 30 years in politics is plausible. I was questioning the post suggesting 6000 flights in 10 years.

 

[p--and--t]

I know he flies a lot but 600 flights per year sounds impossible.
I’m thinking it’s a typo

Corrected - it was a lifetime count.

However bsck in the day I used to do around 300pa in the normal course of business. Sometimes 8-9 a week (and I wasn’t in the APS and I wasn’t campaigning)

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm about half way through the book. I suggest the sceptics here have a read - there is quite a bit of new and interesting stuff. Such as, Aston's positive relationship with Goyder over the years, and the conversations between them after the various crises; also between Joyce/Goyder and the AFR editor at the time. And how a newspaper piece by Vanessa Hudson finally made up Aston's mind to go after Qantas properly.

 

[drron]

The interesting thing is that if you are a Senator you don't have to declare any membership of an airline lounge as it is available to all members. They changed their own rules in 2019.

There is no need to include entertainment or benefits received in common with significant numbers of other senators or other persons, such as
a reception or dinner hosted by a High Commissioner or Ambassador, or access to airline lounges

In point 12 here.

https://www.aph.gov.au/-/media/Committees/Senate/committee/interests_ctte/explanatory_notes.pdf?la=en&hash=446DC8E3C092430D7C27DF619CECF973BE3A8A8B

As Clive Palmer got mentioned here courtesy of the ABC he re released his media comment from the time he was dis -invited.

Qantas Chairman’s Lounge used to punish or reward politicians: Palmer - United Australia Party

Clive Palmer, whose political party used its Senate power to save Qantas from foreign ownership, has called for the airline to immediately abolish its controversial Chairman’s Lounge. Mr Palmer said the lounge was a disgraceful perk used to reward or punish politicians, and as a haven for...

www.unitedaustraliaparty.org.au

It raises 3 interesting points.
1. He says AJ was trying to realise the aims of a former CEO.
2. He was dis invited but the Shadow Minister for Transport who also voted against the same bill wasn't.
3. Why is it that a lot of airtime given to the 2 major pollies who have been dis invited. Could it be they were both members of the Senate cross bench who actually do have a lot of influence.