The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has rejected allegations that he sought flight upgrades through a phone contact with then-Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce.
As the prime minister’s 22 upgrades from the national carrier come under fire, his office issued a statement this evening denying claims that he contacted Qantas CEO to ask for the free flights to the top of the plane.
The statement clarified that the prime minister had never contacted Alan Joyce to request an improvement.
“All travel has been appropriately declared and is a matter of public record.”
Albanese allegedly called Joyce to arrange the upgrades, according to a new book by Joe Aston, a former journalist for the Australian Financial Review.
Based on information gathered from Qantas insiders, the Sydney Morning Herald published an edited excerpt from The Chairman’s Lounge on Saturday, which asserted that Albanese will communicate with Joyce personally regarding his personal travel.
“While other Qantas executives could authorise ‘space available’ upgrades in flight bookings, meaning an upgrade would occur only if there was an empty business or first class seat after check-in had closed, only Joyce could issue ‘confirmed’ or guaranteed upgrades, the kind that Albanese was treated to.”
Cabinet ministers, such as Health Minister Mark Butler and Treasurer Jim Chalmers, have supported the prime minister’s actions, and Albanese has often brought up the fact that he reported his renovations publicly.
However, Albanese has been targeted by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton due to the renovations.
Dutton said that the alleged calls were the only difference between his behavior and the prime minister’s, despite the fact that he, too, has gotten aircraft upgrades and is a member of the invitation-only Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, much like Albanese and the majority of MPs.
“I wasn’t the transport minister picking up the phone to Alan Joyce, the CEO of Australia’s biggest airline, to ask for free upgrades for me and my family,” he told reporters yesterday.
Albanese was asked by Dutton earlier today to reveal if he had discussed the upgrades with Joyce.
