99.9% of passengers flying for their employer cannot single handedly influence Qantas' bottom line like the transport minister can.
A more powerful Qantas might build more F lounges. That would suit a LTP very nicely.
Then we should all welcome the fact that the Minister has attained lifetime WP.
Now she has all the benefits she could wish for, regardless of any decisions she might take.
If anything, this makes her less vulnerable to undue influence or corruption.
The relevant comparison is with CL which is gifted at the whim of QF.
If the Minister had not earned WP status, and was entirely dependent on CL for benefits, she would be more vulnerable.
There would be a real risk that she could, consciously or subconsciously, be anxious that QF might revoke her CL status.
This would be a potential disincentive to make any decision adverse to QF.
Bref, (in English, to cut to the chase), perhaps the Minister will be less likely to block increased flights by QR in future!
What a terrible look for a transport minister. It has conflict of interest written all over it. No wonder QF always get favourable decisions from the Australian government.
As above, unlike CL, WP is earned and not granted at a whim.
So if there were any potential conflict of interest, it has now been resolved.
