Transport Minister Catherine King Takes Lifetime Qantas Platinum Membership Amid Backlash

Catherine King, Australia’s transport minister, formally recorded a lifetime membership in Qantas’ Platinum frequent-flyer tier on her register of interests. The tier provides complimentary lounge entry worldwide, extra baggage, and priority handling, and normally requires 75,000 status credits. The disclosure comes less than two years after a scandal in which several federal MPs abandoned Qantas and Virgin lounges following reports of special treatment for politicians, including alleged upgrades for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The controversy began after journalist Joe Aston revealed details of the “Chairman’s Lounge” and prompted a broader inquiry into airline gifts. King’s entry listed the membership alongside a travel wallet and bag tag, but she misspelled the tier’s name. Her office said the status was earned through her frequent travel with Qantas, and a spokesperson declined further comment.