Adam Bandt said people 'can make their own judgment' about him enjoying an exclusive and discretionary perk from Qantas during a tense exchange with a journalist live on radio.<br>
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The Greens leader has been outed as a member of the Qantas Chairman's <br>
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Lounge, an invitation-only set of catered waiting areas and services handed out by the airline in what has been called 'Australia's most exclusive club'.<br>
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Mr Bandt was challenged on Monday by ABC Radio National stand-in host Steve <br>
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Cannane that he was 'enjoying free hospitality from a company that has illegally sacked <br>
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hundreds of workers'.<br>
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Mr Bandt replied: 'And I'll declare that and people can make their own judgement about <br>
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what they think about that.'<br>
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Cannane was referring to the Federal Court's ruling that Qantas illegally sacked 1,700 workers <br>
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at the start of the Covid pandemic in a case brought by Transport Workers Union. <br>
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Commenting on the sacking in June of 2020, Mr Bandt <br>
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called it a 'devastating day for thousands of Qantas workers & their families' in a <br>
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Facebook post. 'We're thinking of you,' he wrote.<br>
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Cannane challenged Mr Bandt further saying: 'You don't think you should be a little purer on this and <br>
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just not take their (Qantas's) hospitality?'<br>
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Mr Bandt said he always made declarations about matters such as this <br>
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and argued that the party's policies to tax big corporations heavily show the perks were not impacting the Greens. <br>
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Greens leader Adam Bandt said people 'can make their own judgment' about him enjoying an exclusive and <br>
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discretionary perk from Qantas<br>
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Mr Bandt has been outed as a member of the Qantas <br>
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Chairman's Lounge, an invitation only set of catered waiting areas and services handed out by <br>
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the airline that has been called 'Australia's most exclusive club'<br>
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Read More<br>
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How Greens leader Adam Bandt spent thousands <br>
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on private jet flights while lecturing YOU about climate change <br>
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Mr Bandt was spotted in September flying business class from Melbourne to Canberra seated next to Senator Jacqui Lambie.<br>
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Albanese government ministers Tim Watts and Catherine King were on the same flight but were with the masses in economy class.<br>
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It has been previously reported that Mr Bandt opts to frequently fly business <br>
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despite his party's core policy of cutting C02 emissions. <br>
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Flying business class emits about three times as much carbon as economy class because the <br>
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seats take up more room and more of them are empty, according <br>
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to a World Bank study. <br>
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Fellow Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather last year said he had shunned a Chairman's Lounge membership and refuses to travel business class. <br>
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Earlier this year Mr Bandt's flying habits led to controversy.<br>
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Mr Bandt's flying habits have been a previous source <br>
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of controversy after it was revealed he frequently opts for business class <br>
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and has even taken private jets to election events<br>
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Mr Bandt used two private jets during the 2022 federal election campaign, <br>
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landing tax payers with the $23,000 bill. <br>
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One flight was between Queensland regional centres Townsville and Rockhampton on March 7 but he also boarded <br>
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a $15,000 private plane along the well-travelled Brisbane <br>
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to Canberra route to attend his party's election campaign launch.<br>
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Mr Bandt isn't the only politician in the hot seat with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese being asked if he has included both his son and <br>
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partner as 'plus one' Chairman's Club members.<br>
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He is also being asked about free flight upgrades including an international <br>
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one he is alleged to have received from Qantas in new book The Chairman's Lounge authored by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston.<br>
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The Greens are licking their electoral wounds after the Queensland state poll, where <br>
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they are battling to hold onto their two seats <br>
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after stating they aimed to triple their representation in parliament.<br>
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With 72 per cent of the vote counted they appear to have retained the Brisbane seat of Maiwar but suffered a 4.6 per cent <br>
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swing to the ALP.<br>
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However, they remain behind South Brisbane, which has seen a massive 12.4 per cent swing to Labor with 64 per cent of votes counted. <br>
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WHAT IS THE QANTAS CHAIRMAN'S CLUB?<br>
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The Qantas Chairman's Lounge is an invitation-only club approved by the company chairman, with the <br>
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guest list a closely-guarded secret.<br>
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It has been dubbed 'the most exclusive club in the country' and <br>
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comes with a distinct black card.<br>
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Members include senior-ranking MPs including ministers, <br>
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state premiers and the Prime Minister, leaders of major unions and sporting groups,<br>
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Qantas ambassadors, selected A-list celebrities, major corporate <br>
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figures and high-profile media personalities.<br>
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The clubs can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane,<br>
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Perth and Adelaide but are not signed, you have to know where <br>
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to look.<br>
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Inside you will find expensive wood and brass furnishings, wool carpet and marble flooring all <br>
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bathed in natural light. <br>
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Members enjoy fine à la carte dining with a complimentary premium array of beers, spirits and Australian wines.<br>
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Wine bottles are often given as departing gift<br>
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Facilities may also include spas, showers and an assortment of books and magazines.<br>
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Members may bring in two guests at a time. <br>
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Lounge attendants personally alert you when your flight is to board and your personal <br>
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preferences are logged for each flight. Membership also entitles you to first-class facilities at Qantas partner airlines.<br>
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Soure: Executive Traveller<br>
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Adam Bandt said people 'can