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Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has been banned from all Qantas services for six months after allegedly abusing staff at Melbourne Airport in March. Lambie is alleged to have used a homophobic slur against Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who is openly gay.

Nine News this morning reported that on a recent flight out of Melbourne, Jacqui Lambie shouted at Qantas staff that their 鈥淐EO is a poof鈥�, 聽referring to the national carrier鈥檚 boss Joyce聽who is openly gay, among other expletives and referring to 鈥減ussy power鈥� when refused entry to the exclusive Chairman’s Lounge.

It has been confirmed that the Tasmanian senator is now banned from using Qantas services for six months from April. This reportedly follows a number of other altercations between the politician and the national carrier.

Update: Lambie has denied that she used a homophobic slur and shared a Qantas press note on social media that confirmed the same. “I never used that homophobic slur. Anyone who knows me knows it鈥檚 something I鈥檇 never do,” said Lambie.

The two-line note issued by Qantas said: “While Qantas typically doesn’t comment on individual customer matters, the allegation of hate speech being used in our lounges requires a response. We have confirmed with our lounge staff that Senator Lambie did not make a homophobic remark as part of the incident for which she has apologised”.

Senator Blames ‘Bad Day’

The Tasmanian Senator has since apologised, saying her behaviour was 鈥渢otally uncalled for and totally unacceptable.鈥�

鈥淚t was the end of a long week in Canberra. I鈥檇 backed into a car that morning, got a speeding ticket on the way to work, and my flight home was delayed,鈥� Lambie told .

鈥淚t was a bad day for me. But it was worse for the poor Qantas staff who had to stand and take my rant. I have apologised to the staff for my actions, and I鈥檇 like to do so again.”

鈥淚鈥檒l take whatever punishment Qantas throws at me. I鈥檝e done the crime and I鈥檒l do the time, because that鈥檚 what I deserve.鈥�

With the altercation caught on CCTV, Qantas are as yet to make an official statement on Lambie鈥檚 conduct or the six-month ban, however this is not the first time Lambie has come out swinging against the 17c起草社区I communities.

‘Celebrity’ Transphobic Rant

In 2019, as a contestant on I鈥檓 A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Lambie mocked聽聽鈥淣ow we鈥檙e into moving Australia Day, we鈥檙e into transgender and making sure we can change their fucking birth certificates. Stupid Tasmania, they did that just before Christmas time,” Lambie had said.

Lambie followed up by declaring, 鈥淲hen you are born, you鈥檙e either a male or a female.鈥�

Senator Lambie聽will now have to slum it like the rest of us, and rely on Virgin Australia to get to and from Canberra for parliamentary work- a carrier, which does not offer its customers an exclusive Chairman鈥檚 Lounge.

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