Prime Minister Anthony Albanese failed to declare thousands of dollars in business class flight upgrades gifted to him by his ex-wife for his personal travel.
Albanese and his ex-wife, New South Wales politician Carmel Tebbutt, traveled to Los Angeles, Honolulu and Europe between 2009 and 2013, while he was transport minister, opposition transport spokesperson and opposition leader.
The couple received upgrades from economy class to business class, which Albanese declared in his official register of interests, from Qantas and its airline partner Emirates.
However, Albanese did not declare the business class upgrades Tebbutt received for the same trips and locations, the Australian Financial Review reported.
This is despite disclosure rules that state enhancements for spouses and dependent children “must be reported.”
Ms Tebbutt declared updates to her register of interests, detailing personal flights she took between 2008 and 2011 during her tenure as the state’s deputy first minister.
In some cases, he also provided more details than Albanese revealed in his own statement, including the cities he flew to and the class he traveled in.
In 1986, a resolution was passed in the House of Representatives requiring representatives to notify any alteration of their interests.
Premier Anthony Albanese (right) has been criticized for failing to declare business class upgrades gifted to his ex-wife, New South Wales politician Carmel Tebbutt (left).
Albanese received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades from economy class for personal trips and also for his family, according to a new book.
According to the resolution, failure to notify any alteration within 28 days of the change occurring would make the MP “guilty of serious contempt.”
The book The Chairman’s Lounge, by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston, revealed Albanese received at least 22 free economy class upgrades from Qantas for personal travel and also for his family.
The prime minister told reporters on Sunday that he had declared all the improvements he received.
“From time to time, parliamentarians receive promotions, the important thing is that they declare themselves,” said Mr Albanese.
‘All mine have been declared. I note that several of them go back a very, very long period of time. All of them have been declared appropriate.
In his book, Aston also claims Albanese personally approached Joyce for dozens of free flight upgrades from Qantas, including with an international partner on a trip to Rome.
Qantas executives can authorize “space available” upgrades, which is an upgrade granted to a passenger only if there is an empty seat in business class or first class after check-in has closed.
The book claims that Albanese received guaranteed improvements, a benefit that only Joyce could grant.
Albanese’s relationship with former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce was questioned
Albanese shut down questions about his relationship with the former Qantas chief executive.
‘(Alan Joyce) was “As CEO of the national airline, and as CEO of the national airline, I had the same relationship with him that I have with John Borghetti as CEO of Virgin,” Mr Albanese said.
The book also claims that Albanese asked Joyce to make his son a member of the airline’s exclusive Chairman’s Lounge, an invitation-only benefit, after he won the May 2022 election.
Albanese did not include his son’s improvements in his declaration of interests and explained that his son had simply become his ‘plus one’ after his marriage to Mrs Tebbutt ended in 2019.
‘My relationship ended. and my companion became my son,” said Mr. Albanese.
‘I think people’s families should not be targeted. That’s all that happened, simple as that.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said Albanese’s actions failed the pub test, especially given Labor’s decision to reject Qatar’s push for more flights into Australia, putting them in competition with Qantas.
“I think the Prime Minister just has to put an end to this one way or another. Come out and reveal exactly what happened,” he said.
‘And if he didn’t declare it about his pecuniary interest, why not?
‘And I think it’s a reasonable question considering the important decisions this government has made around airfares and airlines in this country.
Consumer Champion’s Adam Glezer called Albanese’s actions “inappropriate” and said politicians and decision-makers should not be allowed to accept perks like access to the Chairman’s Lounge and free upgrades.
‘How can decision makers receive such incredible benefits and make unbiased decisions?’ “All you have to do is look at the lack of competition in this country and our pathetic consumer laws when it comes to aviation,” he said.
‘I think the Prime Minister has a lot to answer for. I’d love to know why you were entitled to complimentary upgrades without paying for them, when us mere mortals have to save for years to enjoy a business class seat.’
Industrial Relations Minister Murray Watt on Sunday defended Albanese and declined to comment further.
“What I can assure you… is that at all times, the Labor Party has had the national interest at the center of our attention when it comes to our decisions on aviation policy,” he told Sky News.