Qantas: Australian Politician Jacquie Lambie banned after incident at Chariman’s Lounge [UPDATED]

Australian politicians, senior public servants and titans of industry are members of the invitation-only Qantas Chairman’s Lounge where they can wait in quiet luxury for their flights in most Australian Capital cities.

It’s one of the most exclusive clubs, and its very rare to hear anything about activities within the lounge. That’s the whole point of privacy, isn’t it?

Rumours

There have been rumours that independent Senator for Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie had some kind of tussle with Qantas staff recently. Everyone has been tight-lipped about whatever the incident was until today when Lambie talked about it on a TV breakfast show.

What happened

Apparently, Lambie lost her temper with Melbourne Qantas Chairman’s Club staff back in March. She was having a bad day, including backing into someone’s car, working long hours in Canberra, and being on pain medication for a flare-up of a back injury she suffered while in the army.

Anyway, she let both barrels blaze when denied entry to the Melbourne Chairman’s lounge. Initially, we didna know why she was denied entry, but we now know it was due to a history of previously questionable behaviour. Previous reports also recorded that it was the result of verbal abuse to the staff, a homophobic slur to Alan Joyce [now denied by both Lambie and Qantas] the out gay CEO of Qantas, and some kind of reference to ‘pussy power’.

pic.twitter.com/vbh0E0HpT2

— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) May 28, 2021

…and for those who doubt her, she then went out and got evidence:

I never said it. I’d never say that.

I know I can’t just deny it and expect people to believe me, so I went and got proof.

I’ve got witnesses confirming I never said it.

Qantas doesn’t think I said it. (1/3) https://t.co/bboAvmbUT3

— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) May 28, 2021

I’m not a homophobe, and I don’t know why someone is anonymously accusing me of being one.

It never happened.

What did happen was I blew my top at a Qantas worker who didn’t deserve it, and I apologised to them, I’ll apologise now, and I’ll wear the consequences. (2/3)

— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) May 28, 2021

Punishment

The sentence is a 6-month suspension from Qantas – which presumably covers Jetstar as well. Not only is she excluded from entry to the Chairman’s Lounge, but also to flights. So it looks like suspension from every service. Her only option will be to use Virgin Australia services, which currently doesn’t run their invitation-only ‘The Club’ at the moment. Although in Melbourne, you can get into the space it occupied if you have sufficient Status with Virgin.

‘Copping it’

In the Australian vernacular, Lambie is quite willing to cop this punishment. The SMH is reporting her saying:

“I’ll take whatever punishment Qantas throws at me. I’ve done the crime and I’ll do the time, because that’s what I deserve.”

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.