NSW Ministers (& shadow) get access to the Chairman's Lounge

[YQY]

I found this interesting info on the internet.

QANTAS CHAIRMAN’S LOUNGE AND QANTAS CLUB
QANTAS Chairman’s Lounge and QANTAS Club have confirmed that the
following arrangements are now in place in regard to entry into the Chairman’s
Lounge and membership of the QANTAS Club.
Newly elected Members from the 54th (the current) Parliament have not
been invited by QANTAS to join the Chairman’s Lounge unless they are
appointed to the Ministry, to the Shadow Ministry or elected as a
Presiding Officer. They may however join the QANTAS Club at the
State Government corporate rate.
Existing Chairman’s Lounge memberships for Members re-elected from
the 54th Parliament have not been cancelled and will continue to be
renewed as long as those Members continue to be Members.
Former Members with existing Chairman’s Lounge membership will
initially be permitted to retain the Chairman’s Lounge membership until
the expiry date. Membership will then revert to Platinum membership
that provides access to the QANTAS Club and continued access to
benefits such as priority check-in.
All Members and their partners have been invited by QANTAS to apply
for membership of the QANTAS Club at the State Government corporate
rate.

I thought only the federal pollies got access to the Lounge! It now seems that the state pollies gain access as well.

Given the unstability in the current NSW Government front bench - there will be a new Chairman's club member every month.

Happy to post the link - however i have less than 10 posts

 

[oz_mark]

The link to the pdf is www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/.../Members_Handbook_v8c1_23_7_0.pdf

It does look as though they have cut back from all members to ministers/shadow ministers.

 

[drron]

The same goes for QLD.
Nearly enough to make one glad they are not CL.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

It seems that QF puts alot of politicians as CL is because they are;
1) Trying to protect "Kangaroo Route"
2) To keep as much of the $500m government travel budget as possible.

I think that MP's getting (almost) automatic CL is a crock. Maybe QF should have a level above WP, like Exec WP, (some airlines have 4 or more levels) which can be attainable and then truely reserve the CL to VIP's and so on. I mean, a MP to me isn't a VIP.

 

[Dave Noble]

I think that MP's getting (almost) automatic CL is a crock.

According to the details provided, new members are no longer getting CL unless in a cabinet or a presiding officer; they just are not ending the benefit for re-elected members who were already members; as they leave parliament , their benefit will cease at expiration date

Dave

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Oneworldplus2

I mean, a MP to me isn't a VIP.

Couldn't agree more. I've always thought the finest example of an oxymoron is "The Honourable member for XYZ".

Now who was it that made a comment about politicians saying "he doesn't lie - he's just economical with the truth"?

Now if only they could be as economical with our taxes.....:evil: :evil:

Happy New Year everyone!

Cheers Oz

 

[YQY]

Imagine running into Joe Tripodi/Eddie Obeid/Kristina etc @ CL - i'm glad they are not in the domestic J lounge.

Edit - Happy NY from the Grand Lounge at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne

 

[Hvr]

It seems that QF puts alot of politicians as CL is because they are;
1) Trying to protect "Kangaroo Route"
2) To keep as much of the $500m government travel budget as possible.

I think that MP's getting (almost) automatic CL is a crock. Maybe QF should have a level above WP, like Exec WP, (some airlines have 4 or more levels) which can be attainable and then truely reserve the CL to VIP's and so on. I mean, a MP to me isn't a VIP.

There is another perspective to take into consideration. Giving a pollie CL membership not only gives the pollie access to the special lounge, it also gives QF access to the pollie.

I mean QF knows where the pollie is and if they really want to speak to them, well a personal welcome at the entrance to the lounge by senior QF person gives them a few minutes to push their agenda even if very subtly.

I reckon it is and always has been a two way relationship.

 

[medhead]

I mean, a MP to me isn't a VIP.

This may be a very true statement, but it slightly misses the point that MP* don't get CL because of who they are, but rather because of the position they hold.

These people make the laws that can have a significant impact on how companies do business, the lowest MP could in fact be an access to the very top levels of government.

Perks like CL are given out as part of that lobbying process, in the expectation that Qantas is going to benefit. Obviously they have decided, what almost anyone else can see, that low level MP* in state governments don't provide a big enough benefit to justify CL.

* MP's only occur at Federal level. At state level they are something like MLAs, MLCs or similar depending on the state. But I'll go with MP for simplicity.

 

[samh004]

It does look as though they have cut back from all members to ministers/shadow ministers.

Which is what was rumoured/told earlier in the year with regards to culling membership.

There is another perspective to take into consideration. Giving a pollie CL membership not only gives the pollie access to the special lounge, it also gives QF access to the pollie.

Very good point.

 

[kpc]

Can someone please explain to me why giving out CL's membership is not a (poorly disguised) bribe?:evil:...almost like political party donations:!:

 

[medhead]

Easily, because the CL is offered without a direct and linked request for favouritism. Maybe they get access to pollies in order to lobby them. But lobbying only involves presenting your case, there is still no expectation of favourtism. In theory.....

 

[samh004]

Easily, because the CL is offered without a direct and linked request for favouritism. Maybe they get access to pollies in order to lobby them. But lobbying only involves presenting your case, there is still no expectation of favourtism. In theory.....

And it’s been happening for so long now that it’s not as if it’s anything out of the ordinary!

 

[Reggie]

Can someone please explain to me why giving out CL's membership is not a (poorly disguised) bribe?:evil:...almost like political party donations:!:

Thats why they offer it to both sides of parliment, minister and shadow, plus you never know when the other side will be in the money again, err sorry I meant power.

Anyway, Happy New Year All.

 

[oz_mark]

At the end of the day, it is of relatively small value to each recipient.

(For a hoot, someday have a read of attempts to define the difference between a "bribe" and a "facilitation payment"!)

 

[MelUser]

A rather funny Chairman's Lounge access story I heard over Christmas.

A relative of mine who is QF Platinum was travelling through Adelaide - she wandered into the Chairman's Lounge assuming that it was the Business Class lounge. Nobody bothered her and she was none the wiser assuming it to be the Business class lounge.

A month later she was travelling from Adelaide with her husband, then a Gold and now a Platinum. They were both travelling QF business class

They wandered into the Chairman's Lounge and the front receptionist ran after them and promptly evicted them into the Qantas Club!