“Ridiculous”: Helloworld CEO denies saying Joe Hockey “owes” him

“Ridiculous”: Helloworld CEO denies saying Joe Hockey “owes” him

Andrew Burnes has denied setting up meetings between Helloworld exec Russell Carstensen and Australian Ambassador to the US Joe Hockey.

During a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday afternoon Carstensen alleged Burnes, the CEO of Helloworld, said he could arrange a meeting with the ambassador because Hockey “owes” him, according to SMH.

“I did not organise any meetings between Russell Carstensen and Joe Hockey,” Burnes said in a statement on the ASX.

“Mr Carstensen’s own email of 24 April 2017 shows that he organised the meeting with Mr Hockey and I was simply CCed on the email.”

Burnes also said Hockey did not discuss the meeting in Washington at any time after it took place.

“I emphatically deny ever having told Mr Carstensen that Mr Hockey “owes me” or any words to that effect,” he said.

“Joe Hockey and I have been close friends for 20 years and it would be ridiculous to suggest I would say or imply he owes me anything.”

Carstensen, who was head of both QBT and Air Tickets at the time of the meeting with Hockey and DFAT employees, resigned from Helloworld in 2018.

Burnes, who is the Liberal Party’s fundraising chief, said he has never received special treatment from Liberal Governments.

He also pointed out that the Whole of Government Accommodation Management contract was awarded to AOT, which Burnes founded in 1987, was won under the federal Labor Government in 2012. In 2015, AOT went for the same tender under the Coalition and was rejected.

AOT merged with Helloworld in 2016.

Andrew Burnes, Cinzia Burnes and Joe Hockey at AOT Headquarters opening 2013

Andrew Burnes, Cinzia Burnes and Joe Hockey at AOT Headquarters opening 2013

Media reports have recently suggested that the Australian Ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, who is one of Helloworld’s 20 largest shareholders, may have encouraged staff to meet with QBT in Washington, DC ahead of its bid for a government contract.

QBT was awarded a contract in 2015 to provide travel management services to Commonwealth Government Agencies, including DFAT.

According to Helloworld, in 2017, QBT met with DFAT personnel in the US to discuss the provision of travel management services to the US by the company’s request.

“QBT understands DFAT personnel met a number of travel service providers as part of its considerations in relation to the provision of travel services in the US,” Helloworld said in a statement.

In August 2018, DFAT started a formal tender process, which QBT responded to, but no announcement has been made in relation to the tender.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Andrew Burnes helloworld

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]