Allegra Spender quits Qantas and Virgin lounge memberships

A political firestorm about lounge perks was triggered by allegations in journalist Joe Aston's new book 'The Chairman's Lounge', that the Prime Minister had personally solicited more than 20 flight upgrades from former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

Independent MP Allegra Spender has quit her memberships to Qantas and Virgin lounges, following allegations Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally solicited more than 20 flight upgrades from former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

The allegations are contained in journalist Joe Aston’s new book ‘The Chairman’s Lounge’, and have sparked a political firestorm about lounge perks for MPs.

“I think it’s really important that members of parliament are seen to be paying their own way,” Ms Spender told the ABC.

“I think the community expects that, and I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Ms Spender said she had never used her lounge memberships, and that she quit them as soon as she heard about the allegations.

“I was really surprised and disappointed by the allegations that I read in Joe Aston’s book,” she said.

“I think it’s really important that we have transparency and accountability in our government, and I think this is a matter that needs to be investigated further.”

The Prime Minister has denied the allegations, calling them “completely untrue”.

“I’ve never asked for an upgrade in my life, and I’ve never received an upgrade that I didn’t pay for,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Monday.

“I think it’s important that we focus on the issues that matter to the Australian people, and not get bogged down in these sorts of allegations.”

But Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the allegations were “very serious” and that they needed to be investigated.

“The Prime Minister needs to come clean on this and explain himself,” Mr Dutton said.

“If these allegations are true, then it’s a clear breach of ministerial standards and he should resign.”

The allegations are the latest in a string of scandals to hit the Albanese government, following the resignation of former Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney over a travel expenses scandal.