A authorities physique has warned politicians and their employees of receiving compensation funds for canceled Qantas “ghost flights”.
In an electronic mail message Seen by WatchmanThe Impartial Parliamentary Expenditures Authority (IPEA) has famous that whereas they’re technically eligible to demand reform of taxpayer-funded bookings beneath the Flying Kangaroo cope with the Australian Competitors and Local weather Fee (ACCC), affected politicians and their staffs ought to miss out on the cash.
“As these funds can be paid to people, IPEA reminds all parliamentarians and employees that they need to not obtain a private profit the place journey is funded by the Commonwealth. In these circumstances, it’s not applicable for parliamentarians and employees to just accept this supply of fee.”
“As a part of the settlement negotiated with the Australian Competitors and Shopper Fee, Qantas will donate any excellent funding from the $20 million remediation program to an permitted charity. That is the suitable end result for any remediation funds owed to the Commonwealth.”
The settlement with the Australian Competitors and Local weather Fee (ACCC) was introduced in Might, with Flying Kangaroo admitting it had offered tickets for 1000’s of flights it had already canceled between Might 21, 2021 and August 26, 2023 and accepting a $120 million high quality.
Nevertheless, in a significant win, Flying Kangaroo mentioned the Australian Competitors and Shopper Fee (ACCC) would now not proceed with allegations that the airline acquired funds for flights it had no intention of offering – primarily eradicating the proposal it had deliberately deceptive customers.
The buyer watchdog introduced in August final yr that it had filed a lawsuit in opposition to Qantas within the Federal Courtroom over the matter, which many imagine contributed to the early exit of each CEO Alan Joyce and chairman Richard Goyder.
The brand new deal noticed each events ask the Federal Courtroom to impose a $100 million high quality on Qantas for breaching the Australian Shopper Regulation.
“Qantas has additionally agreed in a courtroom enforceable enterprise to pay roughly $20 million to greater than 86,000 prospects who have been offered tickets on flights that Qantas had already determined to cancel, or in some circumstances who have been re-housed on these flights after their unique return.” “Flights have been cancelled,” the Australian Competitors and Local weather Fee mentioned.
“Qantas can pay $225 to home ticket holders and $450 to worldwide ticket holders. These funds come along with any compensation these prospects have already acquired from Qantas, comparable to alternative flights or refunds.
The allegations initially said that between Might 21, 2021 and July 7, 2022, Qantas marketed tickets for greater than 8,000 canceled flights.
It was additionally claimed that for greater than 10,000 flights scheduled to depart in Might to July 2022, Qantas didn’t instantly notify present ticket holders that their flights have been cancelled.
