All six senior members of the new federal anti-corruption watchdog have accepted Qantas Chairman's Lounge memberships as calls grow to <br>
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refer Anthony Albanese over the perks he took from the airline. <br>
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Gift disclosure logs for the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) leadership positions show commissioners are all part of Australia's 'most exclusive <br>
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club' the Chairman's Lounge membership extended by invite only by the Qantas chair.<br>
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<b>This has raised concerns over how impartial the body would be when dealing with Qantas matters. </b><br>
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If Mr Albanese has requested flight upgrades from former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce directly, as reported in a new book, <br>
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he may have fallen foul of the strict Ministerial Code of Conduct which <br>
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prohibits ministers from seeking 'any kind of benefit' <br>
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Commissioner Paul Brereton declared Chairman's Lounge membership in 2023,<br>
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as did the CEO Philip Reed and deputy commissioners <br>
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Jaala Hinchcliffe and Nicole Rose, Sky News reported on Wednesday. <br>
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Deputy commissioners Ben Gauntlett and Kylie Kilgour declared their membership in February 2024, <br>
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which means it was after the NACC began operation in July 2023.<br>
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<strong><u>NACC Commissioner Paul Brereton declared his Chairman's Lounge membership <br>
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in 2023</u></strong><br>
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<b>Inside the exclusive hideaway for the nation's movers and shakers, where secret <br>
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An NACC spokesperson confirmed the Commissioner, three <br>
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deputy commissioners and CEO are members of the Chairman's lounge.<br>
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<b>'This does not impact the integrity of the Commission,' the spokesman said.</b><br>
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'Each of the statutory office holders has made appropriate declarations in regards to Chairman's lounge membership in the NACC Gifts and Benefits register.<br>
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<u><i>'Qantas is not a Commonwealth agency within the Commission's <br>
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jurisdiction.'</i></u><br>
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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his deputy Sussan Ley have said the Prime <br>
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Minister should refer himself to the NACC over 22 upgrades and extra Chairman's Lounge memberships received from Qantas. <br>
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An insight into the type of service offered by the Chairman's Lounges was offered by a job ad posted on employment site Indeed for the one at Canberra Airport.<br>
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The ad, placed by hotel group Accor that Qantas contracts to <br>
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run the lounges, stated they were seeking 'a highly motivated Food & Beverage Attendant to join our experienced and professional Front of House <br>
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team'.<br>
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'This role is based within the Chairman's Lounge, a <br>
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small fine dining restaurant and lounge area that offers an a la carte menu <br>
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designed by Neil Perry Consulting,' the ad states. <br>
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'Service is discrete yet attentive, providing friendly and efficient food and beverage offerings that meets our passengers' expectations.'<br>
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The Qantas Chairman's Lounge (pictured Sydney Airport) has been described as Australia's most <br>
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exclusive club<br>
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Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce proudly walks <br>
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the red carpet with one arm around the prime minister <br>
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and the other around his partner Jodie Haydon<br>
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A job ad for the Canberra Qantas Chairman's Lounge <br>
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sets out the requirements to serve the high <br>
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and mighty<br>
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Applicants must 'have experience working in a fine dining environment and the ability <br>
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to work a seven- day rotating roster.<br>
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The claims Albanese received 22 upgrades from economy when booking Qantas flight by personally requesting them from Mr <br>
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Joyce are made in a new book The Chairman's Lounge by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston. <br>
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Aston alleged Mr Albanese directly contacted Mr Joyce while <br>
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in his various parliamentary jobs, which included Minister for Transport to ask for <br>
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special upgrades that only the CEO could dole out for <br>
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himself or his family.<br>
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According to unnamed Qantas 'insiders' 11 of the 22 flights Mr Albanese received upgrades for <br>
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were 'privately funded' and included overseas trips to Rome,<br>
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London, Los Angeles and Honolulu.<br>
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The book also revealed that as well as son Nathan having <br>
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a 'plus one' Chairman's Lounge membership Mr Albanese's partner Jodie Haydon did as well. <br>
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<i><u>Mr Albanese insisted on Tuesday that all were <br>
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'declared in the appropriate way'.</u></i><br>
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<u><b>WHAT IS THE QANTAS CHAIRMAN'S CLUB?</b></u><br>
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The Qantas Chairman's Lounge is an invitation-only club approved <br>
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by the company chairman, with the guest list a closely-guarded secret.<br>
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It has been dubbed ¿the most exclusive club in the country¿ <br>
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and comes with a distinct black card.<br>
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Members include senior-ranking MPs including ministers, state premiers <br>
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and the Prime Minister, leaders of major unions and sporting <br>
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groups, Qantas ambassadors, selected A-list celebrities, major corporate figures and high-profile <br>
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media personalities.<br>
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The clubs can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide but are not signed, you have to know where to <br>
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look.<br>
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Inside you will find expensive wood and brass furnishings, wool <br>
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carpet and marble flooring all bathed in natural light. <br>
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Members enjoy fine à la carte dining with a complimentary premium array of beers, spirits <br>
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and Australian wines. Wine bottles are often given as departing gift<br>
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<u><b>Facilities may also include spas, showers and an assortment of books and magazines.</b></u><br>
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<u><strong>Members may bring in two guests at a time. </strong></u><br>
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Lounge attendants personally alert you when your flight is to <br>
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board and your personal preferences are logged for <br>
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each flight. Membership also entitles you to first-class facilities <br>
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at Qantas partner airlines.<br>
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<b>Soure: Executive Traveller</b><br>
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Anthony AlbaneseQantas<br>
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All six senior members of the