National Anti-Corruption Commission heads refuse to grant access to Qantas chairman’s lounge amid concerns over potential conflict of interest

Vice Chairman of the NACC Supervisory Committee and Teal MP Helen Haines recently gave up her Qantas Chairman’s Lounge pass.but the NACC commissioners failed to do the same.

Ms Haynes told Sky News the situation, caused by “significant lobbying of MPs” by Qantas, created the “perception and potential” for a conflict of interest.

After Sky News reported that the entire executive team had signed up for membership in the exclusive Qantas Chair’s Lounge.NACC denies any conflict of interest.

In a statement to SkyNews.com.au, the NACC said it was not affected by the dispute because Qantas is not a government agency.

“As Qantas is not a Commonwealth agency subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, membership in the Chairman’s Chamber does not affect or influence how Commissioners perform their duties,” the NACC said.

“As a result, membership does not pose a conflict of interest. Accordingly, the Commission’s statutory officers do not intend to relinquish their membership.”

This happens after NACC Commissioner invalidated after he revealed a conflict of interest relating to the Royal Commission into the Robodebt scheme.

The anti-corruption watchdog says management “properly declared” the Qantas lounge’s membership in the agency’s gifts and benefits register.

Commissioner Paul Brereton announced membership to the exclusive club in 2023, as did chief executive Philip Reid and deputy commissioners Jaala Hinchcliffe and Nicole Rose.

Ms Hinchcliffe and Ms Rose have renewed their membership of the Chairman’s Lounge from their previous position.

Deputy Commissioners Ben Gauntlett and Kylie Kilgour announced their membership in February 2024.

While the NACC will not have to investigate Qantas as a private company, it may have to look at cases involving politicians and benefits they received from the airline, such as access to the chairman’s lounge.

The coalition called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to refer it to the NACC to “demonstrate he did nothing wrong” in his “cozy” relationship with the former Qantas CEO.

The Prime Minister has received at least 22 free flight upgrades from Alan Joyce and Qantas while serving in the transport portfolio and overseeing the aviation industry.

details unearthed in Joe Aston’s new bookThe Chairman’s Lounge, which Mr Albanese served, even directly asked Mr Joyce to carry out some upgrades.

The NACC’s membership of the Chairman’s Lounge, described as “Australia’s most exclusive club”, has raised questions about how the watchdog can impartially assess allegations against Qantas.

Independent politicians expressed concern that more than 90 per cent of politicians claimed membership of the exclusive Qantas club.

In response, Teal MP Allegra Spender announced she would cancel Qantas and Virgin lounge access and called on other politicians to do the same.

“Single treatment of politicians by Qantas and Virgin has undermined public trust in government and effective competition in the airline industry,” she said.

Teal MP Ms Haines also stressed that public trust in political decisions should take precedence over personal benefits.

“What we have now is a perception and a potential conflict of interest brought to light by significant lobbying of MPs by Qantas,” she told Sky News.

“If the audit raises the question that it might influence decisions about companies that are governed by the laws passed in this place … I think it makes sense to abandon this today.”

She called for “more transparency” and “stricter rules” governing corporate benefits offered to politicians.

The Albana government’s decision to block Qatar Airways’ proposal to increase international flights to Australia has become a hot topic in Parliament.

The Labor Party has rejected a bid by Qatar Airways that would have increased competition with Qantas and lowered airfares for Australians.

The government’s reasons for rejecting the application included protecting jobs at Qantas and the “national interest”.