VIDEO: Kate Chaney believes its important that MP's disclose their interests amid Qantas debacle (4 Nov 2024)
Kate Chaney: I haven't had to review it. I was up to date. And I do think that it's really important that MPs disclose their interests and keep that up to date. I think it also draws attention to the broader need for transparency, and donation transparency is a big part of that. I really hope the government will act on that before the next election so people can see who's funding candidates before they vote.
Greg Jennett:Yes, we've spoken about that before, and we have every reason to believe that Don Farrell is ready to move on electoral reform. We think before the end of this year, you will have noticed that your crossbench colleague Allegra Spender has done a couple of things today. One, she has signalled her intention to write to Qantas and Virgin, asking them not to give any more free upgrades to parliamentarians. And the other is she'll be cancelling her Qantas Chairman's Lounge and Virgin VIP memberships. You attracted to either of those courses of action?
Kate Chaney: I've had zero concerns from constituents about this issue. I have written to Qantas and said I will relinquish my Chairman's Lounge membership just because I think it's really important that the public know that and can have that trust in their representatives to make independent decisions.
Greg Jennett: What does that mean for you? I mean, I will suggest that your travel circumstances are quite different to Allegra Spender’s. What are the practical implications in that?
Kate Chaney: It is obviously a slightly painful part of being a Perth MP. But there are lots of people who do FIFO travel from Perth, and I can manage it. I still fly in comfortable circumstances, so it's not actually an issue constituents are concerned about. I understand. But there's so much media focus on it, so I did think about it and think it's actually just not worth it if there's a perception it's somehow influencing my decisions.
Greg Jennett: Okay, so that was a position you arrived at only when? In recent days?
Kate Chaney: Oh, look, I emailed Qantas today about it.
Greg Jennett: And is that a block action being taken in concert with other crossbenches that you're aware of? I mean, adding them together here, there's now Allegra Spender and you. I know you can't speak on behalf of others, but is this a block position?
Kate Chaney: It's not a block position, and we don't often have a block position. I made my decision based on my circumstances, and everyone will make their own decision.
Greg Jennett: What about the acceptance of upgrades? Would you do that?
Kate Chaney: I think it is a bad look to be requesting upgrades, especially if you're actually in charge of making policy to regulate an industry.
Greg Jennett: Do you think those soliciting of them or more than accepting of them by a minister, if they were solicited, is that in your view a breach of the ministerial code?
Kate Chaney: Well, I think that people really want to be able to trust politicians to make decisions in the public interest. And there is a deep suspicion that, if politicians are getting secret freebies, it might influence their decisions. So, I think it's a bad look. I don't know if it's technically a breach of that code of conduct, but I suspect that from now on, politicians will think more carefully about whether they are actively soliciting upgrades that might be perceived.
Greg Jennett: Had you ever done that yourself?
Kate Chaney: I've never actively sought an upgrade. I did get an upgrade on a Qatar flight a couple of years ago, or last year, which I immediately declared.
Greg Jennett: I see that. Yeah, and I think that's the tricky bit. It's one thing to say, don't solicit, then if you're offered an upgrade that you haven't solicited, do you have to say no to it because you're an MP?
Kate Chaney: Well, people will make their own decisions on that.
Greg Jennett: Alright.
