Albanese Labor Govt Watch

[Jim05]

Aston was one of the few that didn't drink the Joyce / Qantas kool aid and called them out a long time ago and continuously ever since.
So much so that QF Lounge banned the AFR
IMO Aston probably was the major influence in bringing down Joyce

$hit airline / $hit organisation

I agree about Aston but his judgement sometimes gets clouded by his bitterness plus his friendships over at Virgin. A lot of what he says is correct though and the Feds have run a protection racket for Qantas for far too long.
They are still are good business in many areas but let down by management and that won’t change under Vanessa

[Jimmy_041]

Aston was one of the few that didn't drink the Joyce / Qantas kool aid and called them out a long time ago and continuously ever since.
So much so that QF Lounge banned the AFR
IMO Aston probably was the major influence in bringing down Joyce

$hit airline / $hit organisation

I agree about Aston but his judgement sometimes gets clouded by his bitterness plus his friendships over at Virgin. A lot of what he says is correct though and the Feds have run a protection racket for Qantas for far too long.
They are still are good business in many areas but let down by management and that won’t change under Vanessa

So, where there's smoke there's fire and agree about Vanessa. You're not the first better informed person to say that.

I remember Cathay Pacific back in the 2000's and knew Tony Tyler well (pretty ruthless bloke but was good to have a beer with outside of work) as I was consulting to Swire including CX

Some interesting similarities between QF & CX

Tyler a director of both companies at the time

QF sacking the ground crews and CX sacking the 49ers (I was involved in this) - both illegally

Around 2001 the HK Govt were looking at opening up more slots to other airlines. Cathay were complaining and using the line that they were the "national carrier".
There was a Joe Aston type in the SCMP ( I cant remember his name) who went to town on them in a similar fashion. Tore them a new one by ripping their PR to bits

Nothing like a journo with a gripe and gallons of ink - enjoyable reading and Aston has been very enjoyable for those of us with their own Qantas gripe

[dedja]

I suspect Jimmy is auditioning for a Qantas Ambassador role.

[Jimmy_041]

I suspect Jimmy is auditioning for a Qantas Ambassador role.

My first experience with Virgin this year was just as bad
I gave Jayne Hrdlicka a spray on Linkedin about people in glass houses

It's their effing attitude that pi$$es me off
QF's defence in the ACCC action was that customers were not buying a specific flight when they book to travel but instead a “bundle of rights”. That, in itself, shows the contempt for the punter

Selling seats on cancelled flights is not just "mis-selling" - it is deliberately deceptive and unconscionable.
Refusing, or deliberately, delaying repayment is aggravated conduct
The ACCC let us all down by settling so they could book a big fine.

Financial institutions got a bollocking in the Hayne RC for less than what Qantas and Virgin do to us for $hit and giggles

[dedja]

LOL, Albo doing his worst Clinton ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman’ defence.

Will be more than a few comrades in the back room who secretly will be grinning at the minute.

[Jimmy_041]

LOL, Albo doing his worst Clinton ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman’ defence.

Will be more than a few comrades in the back room who secretly will be grinning at the minute.

Very good.........

"The prime minister did not ever call Alan Joyce seeking an upgrade"

Should be rephrased : "after an exhaustive search by the entire PM's Dept over the past 6 days, we cannot find anything that can be used against the PM to show that he did call Joyce"

Why didn't Albo deny it from the first day when he was asked that direct question?

Apparently, Aston doesn't have proof. All Albo had to do was immediately deny it. The damage is done and won't be undone no matter what they do now. Poor advice to Albo (unless they knew it was true so had to trawl through all of his e-mails etc for any proof)

Something tells me this has some way to play out before its finished

[dedja]

Yep, and there’s probably a few Libs and Nats laughing hard but at the same time praying that they’re not the next to be outed.

[DOC]

So it turns out that there was zero contact from Albo to Joyce regarding any flight upgrades according to his spokesperson.

All 30 upgrades offered to him by airlines in the last 25 years are declared and on the public record according to his spokesperson

Either this is not factual from Albo and it will be the end of him 1% chance.

If it is factual then it tarnishes the accuracy and veracity of the book.99% chance. Pity.

Biggest question will be sue for defamation or let it ride?

[mighty_tiger_79]

I'd say Albo or his staffers called Joyce and flight upgrades were mentioned

[Jim05]

I'd say Albo or his staffers called Joyce and flight upgrades were mentioned

One thing I know for certain is that Joyce was the only person at Qantas who had the authority to manually process an upgrade regardless of availability.
Other staff can process upgrades if there is availability at the time

[dedja]

Not saying it’s the way it should be, but regardless of the truth or otherwise of the allegations, Albo’s up to his neck in merde because the story has momentum, and once that happens, it rarely can be hauled back.

He probably will just hope that it all goes away, which it probably will at some stage.

Will it cause lasting damage? Dunno, but it certainly won’t help.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Just doesn't look good. And appearances are everything

[Jimmy_041]

Yep, and there’s probably a few Libs and Nats laughing hard but at the same time praying that they’re not the next to be outed.

Getting upgrades or a free ride on Gina isn't the problem (no matter how much Labor push it, and use pox on both houses strategy, trying to deflect)

Its the misuse of position asking for, or accepting extra, favours.

CL +1 = no problem
Having no partner so ask for junior to be +1 = no problem
New wifey getting +1 but junior stays on (& nobody else is getting +2) when you are PM = bad juju

[Jimmy_041]

I'd say Albo or his staffers called Joyce and flight upgrades were mentioned

One thing I know for certain is that Joyce was the only person at Qantas who had the authority to manually process an upgrade regardless of availability.
Other staff can process upgrades if there is availability at the time

errrrrrr, can you give upgrades Jim?

Asking for a friend

[dedja]

I'd say Albo or his staffers called Joyce and flight upgrades were mentioned

One thing I know for certain is that Joyce was the only person at Qantas who had the authority to manually process an upgrade regardless of availability.
Other staff can process upgrades if there is availability at the time

errrrrrr, can you give upgrades Jim?

Asking for a friend

How do you think Jim travels so frequently?

[Jimmy_041]

So it turns out that there was zero contact from Albo to Joyce regarding any flight upgrades according to his spokesperson.

All 30 upgrades offered to him by airlines in the last 25 years are declared and on the public record according to his spokesperson

Either this is not factual from Albo and it will be the end of him 1% chance.

If it is factual then it tarnishes the accuracy and veracity of the book.99% chance. Pity.

Biggest question will be sue for defamation or let it ride?

Still interesting that it has taken him so long to deny it
Imagine if there is a Senate Inquiry and Joyce is called, attends, and is asked, under oath, the question.....
I'd bank we wont see Joyce on these shores for a long time

Considering the Lehrmann / Higgins / Reynolds saga, I would reckon most pollies would be steering clear of defamation trials for a long time

[Jim05]

I'd say Albo or his staffers called Joyce and flight upgrades were mentioned

One thing I know for certain is that Joyce was the only person at Qantas who had the authority to manually process an upgrade regardless of availability.
Other staff can process upgrades if there is availability at the time

errrrrrr, can you give upgrades Jim?

Asking for a friend

No, I don’t directly work for Qantas

[Jim05]

I'd say Albo or his staffers called Joyce and flight upgrades were mentioned

One thing I know for certain is that Joyce was the only person at Qantas who had the authority to manually process an upgrade regardless of availability.
Other staff can process upgrades if there is availability at the time

errrrrrr, can you give upgrades Jim?

Asking for a friend

How do you think Jim travels so frequently?

I have to fly with Qantas for work but for leisure it’s all Virgin which can be 20-30 flights per year. I have taken on average 20+ international flights per year and haven’t set foot on a Qantas International flight for about 6 years.

[dedja]

Envious … bastard.

Good luck to you.

[am Bays]

Interesting that this is still the lead federal news story on the ABC, news Ltd and nine news compared to the inflation decrease and will they wont they rates cut given the cost of living debate.