Global pop icon Lady Gaga made a grand entrance into Melbourne ahead of her highly anticipated Australian tour, but her mode of transport has ignited a conversation far beyond the music. The 39-year-old singer touched down on Friday, flying from Sydney to Melbourne in a $75 million Bombardier 7500 private jet owned by Australian tech billionaire and noted climate advocate, Mike Cannon-Brookes.
The Lavish Arrival and a Stark Contrast
Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, was photographed disembarking the luxury aircraft in a striking all-black ensemble. She wore a figure-hugging black dress that finished at the thigh, with her long blonde hair down and large wraparound sunglasses completing the look. The star appeared focused, likely mentally preparing for her first show at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium that evening.
This stylish arrival, however, sits in stark contrast to the public image of the jet's owner. Mike Cannon-Brookes, 46, the co-founder of software giant Atlassian, is a prominent campaigner for renewable energy and climate action. He has publicly wrestled with the decision to own such a carbon-intensive asset, citing personal security and the demands of running a global business from Australia while being a present father as key reasons.
The Multi-Million Dollar Carbon Footprint
Recent corporate filings have shed light on the staggering costs and environmental impact of the jet's use. In the 12 months to July, the globe-trotting travel of Cannon-Brookes' private jet cost a whopping $5.7 million, borne largely by Atlassian shareholders.
The figures, reported in The Australian, reveal the aircraft travelled approximately 440,000 kilometres between August 2024 and the end of July 2025—a distance nearly equivalent to a round trip to the moon. It made 90 flights across 43 airports in that period.
Analysts estimate the carbon dioxide emissions from these flights would be sufficient to power a town of 2,400 homes for an entire year. This creates a significant paradox for Cannon-Brookes, who has invested heavily in projects like the Sun Cable solar farm and pressured energy company AGL to accelerate its shift to renewables.
Corporate Costs and Personal Conflict
Atlassian's proxy statement to the US stock exchange in October detailed that the company paid approximately $2.9 million Australian dollars to an entity affiliated with Mr Cannon-Brookes in the last fiscal year as reimbursement for the jet's operational costs. The company stated it now pays a pre-determined rate per flight hour under a charter arrangement, which it claims is below market rate.
On LinkedIn in March, Cannon-Brookes openly expressed his "deep personal conflict over buying a private jet." He wrote, "I'm not denying I have a deep internal conflict on this... This is a hard, continual trade-off I've decided to make."
Gaga's Australian Tour Kicks Off
Meanwhile, Lady Gaga's focus remains on her fans. Her Australian leg, part of a global tour for her latest album 'Mayhem', marks her first performances in the country in eleven years, since the ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour in 2014.
She will perform at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on December 5 and 6, followed by Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on December 9, and will conclude with two shows at Sydney's Accor Stadium on December 12 and 13.
In an Instagram post, Gaga explained the tour came together quickly after the "incredible response" to her album. She emphasised that her team chose arenas (though Australian dates are in stadiums) to better control the theatrical details of the show, promising an "electrifying experience" for her fans, whom she affectionately calls "monsters."
