As the Prime Minister faces intense scrutiny over 22 upgrades he received from the national airline, Downing Street issued a statement this evening saying the Prime Minister had called the Qantas boss to offer him a free trip to the tip of the plane. He refuted the allegations that he had made the request. .
“The Prime Minister never called Alan Joyce to ask for a promotion,” the statement said.
“All travel is properly declared and is a matter of public record.”
Comments came after the original author’s new book Australian Financial Review Columnist Joe Aston claimed that Albanese had contacted Joyce to arrange the upgrade, but it seemed unlikely that the multi-day inquiry would end.
“According to Qantas insiders, the Albanians planned to contact Joyce directly about personal travel.”Edited excerpts Chairman’s LoungePublished in sydney morning herald on Saturday, he claimed.
“Other Qantas executives were able to approve ‘as available’ upgrades on flight bookings, meaning upgrades would only occur if a Business Class or First Class seat became available after check-in. This means that only Joyce could issue a ‘confirmed’ or guaranteed upgrade, something the Albanians were treated to.
Senator David Pocock highlighted the Prime Minister’s narrow denial, asking: “Was there a text message or an email?”
He called for a broader dialogue on the transparency of lobbying and other contacts with ministers.
“We have rules where you can be transport minister and you can get a promotion from a regulated company and as long as you declare it that’s perfectly fine,” the independent ACT told the ABC. . 7.30 last night.
“The next step I would like to think about is, ‘Okay, we’re not holding ourselves to a high enough standard as politicians, let’s rethink the way we declare that.’
“Look at our lobbying laws. Look at this revolving door where the resource minister dives headlong into fossil fuel companies.”
Prime Minister Albanese has repeatedly pointed to the fact that he publicly revealed his upgrade, and ministers including Finance Minister Jim Chalmers and Health Minister Mark Butler have defended his actions.
But Opposition Leader Peter Dutton attacked Albanese over the upgrade.
Mr Dutton has also received a flight upgrade and, like Mr Albanese and most other MPs, is a member of the invite-only Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, but the difference between Mr Dutton’s actions and the prime minister’s is the alleged phone call. He said that there is.
He said yesterday: “As Minister for Transport, I did not call Alan Joyce, the CEO of Australia’s largest airline, and ask him for a free upgrade for me and my family.” said.
Earlier today, Mr Dutton asked Mr Albanese whether he had spoken to Mr Joyce about the upgrade.
“The Prime Minister must answer…the first question is whether he picked up the phone to Alan Joyce and asked for a free upgrade,” he said.
“That’s a very easy question to answer.”
