No political favours, says Joyce – and Chairman’s Lounge list stays secret
Alan Joyce on Thursday dismissed as “nonsense” the suggestion Qantas exchanges benefits for favours from the Albanese government, and declined to comment on who gets access to the airline’s coveted Chairman’s Lounge.
The Qantas chief executive’s comments followed The Australian Financial Review’s Rear Window column revealing on Wednesday that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s son, Nathan, has been given Chairman’s Lounge access.
The federal government has also been under pressure to explain why it blocked Qatar Airways from adding 28 flights a week into Australia, a move which disappointed proponents of greater competition but should help Qantas’ bottom line.
Qantas boss Alan Joyce said we wouldn’t have multi-employer bargaining if he had his way. Brook Mitchell
It is understood that Mr Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong intervened in the decision to block Qatar Airways, but Transport Minister Catherine King has refused to say on what grounds.
Mr Joyce said the government had listened to all parties involved, but Qantas had not exercised undue influence.
“This is just a nonsense that Qantas has this unbelievable influence that can dictate anything with the government. And I don’t know how that mindset has got there because it’s just not right,” he told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.
Mr Joyce said the airline had a mature relationship with government and could agree to disagree.
“I’ve been good mates with Albo for some time, we’ve known each other for a long time. The fact that there’s some sort of assumption that whatever you do here… will get you political favours is just not happening,” Mr Joyce said.
“If the government was doing the bidding of Qantas, then it would have not done multi-employer bargaining,
Read more on afr.com
