Some Australian scandals never get the New Zealand coverage they deserve — which is a shame, as they can tell us much about our neighbours. Qantas’s Chairman’s Lounge debacle is a case in point. 
 
This exclusive club, located in discreet corners of Australian airports, is now at the centre of a political storm. Qantas, has long enjoyed a certain regulatory harmony with the government and offers a remarkable array of privileges to certain favoured guests. Its unmarked doors ensure that ordinary passengers never witness the inner sanctum where the nation’s future is shaped. 
 
Membership of the Chairman’s Lounge is not something one can buy or acquire through loyalty points or business-class desperation. Rather, Qantas seems to reserve its best welcome for Australian politicians and officials. Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce once said it was “probably the most exclusive club in the country.” 
 
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, it has emerged, received at least 22 free flight upgrades during his time as Transport Minister. He has assured the Australian public that this had absolutely no bearing on his government’s recent decision to deny Qatar Airways additional flights to Australia.  
 
In a twist worthy of any good satire, even Australia’s anti-corruption leaders are on the Chairman’s Lounge guest list. Presumably, the comfort of first-class seats helps them keep a close watch on integrity. 
 
The timing of these revelations could hardly be worse for Qantas. The airline has been busy this past year, misplacing luggage, cancelling flights, and charging passengers what might politely be called “optimised” fares. Yet, they have their priorities in order, finding the funds for this invitation-only club. It now counts more than 90 per cent of federal MPs among its members. 
 
Qantas may consider all passengers equal, but clearly, some are more equal than others. 

In a noble show of principle, several independent MPs have given up their Chairman’s Lounge access in protest, gaining public admiration while, no doubt, puzzling their colleagues. 
 
Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about this affair is the rare unity it has sparked among Australians. Few events so consistently bring politicians, airlines, and the public together in shared outrage. 
 
As New Zealanders, we can only watch this spectacle with bemusement. After all, our parliamentary perks are far more modest. Perhaps that has something to do with our Air Force still trying to get its Boeing 757 off the ground.