Anthony Albanese contacted a Qantas executive to receive free flight upgrades in place of former chief executive Alan Joyce, explosive new claims claim, but the Prime Minister has denied they are true.
Sky News presenter Sharri Markson made the allegations on Wednesday as the Prime Minister categorically denied for the first time that he had directly contacted Joyce or anyone at Qantas to apply for the benefits.
Markson claimed Andrew Parker, who oversaw Qantas governance and international affairs, personally handled Albanese’s flight upgrades to business class during his long political career, which included being Transport Minister.
Parker held his senior role at Qantas between May 2013 and July 2021, coinciding with Albanese’s time as Transport Minister between December 2007 and September 2013.
Albanese’s relationship with Parker was close enough that he attended a housewarming party hosted by the former Qantas employee at a warehouse in the inner Sydney suburb of Annandale.
Sky News reported that there was even a mock plaque on Parker’s house, saying it was officially opened by Albanese.
Parker’s LinkedIn page shows a post from a month ago with a photo of him standing next to Albanese at the opening of the new Street Side Medics charity clinic in Melbourne about seven months ago.
From 2017 to 2021, Parker also served as director of Airlines for Australia and New Zealand, a lobby group that represented the airline alongside Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Rex and Air New Zealand.
A photo on former Qantas executive Andrew Parker’s LinkedIn page (pictured far right) shows him at a charity event with the Prime Minister.
The group “advocates for key public policy issues, such as airport operations and efficient access to national airport infrastructure,” according to its website.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest any wrongdoing on Mr Parker’s part.
Meanwhile, Mr Albanese has strongly denied reports that he requested flight upgrades from Qantas Mr Joyce, telling Sydney’s 2GB radio that he also did not send text messages or emails to Mr Joyce, the airline’s boss. , to request an upgrade, nor did he seek upgrades from anyone else at Qantas.
2GB presenter Ben Fordham said on Thursday that he was in contact with Albanese last night to “fill in some of the gaps in his statement”.
Sky News presenter Sharri Markson claims Albanese was close enough to Parker (pictured) to attend his housewarming party.
Fordham read the following exchange on air.
Fordham: ‘Did you ever text Alan Joyce about flight upgrades?’
Albanese: ‘No.’
Fordham: ‘Have you ever emailed Alan Joyce about flight improvements?’
Albanese: ‘No.’
Fordham: ‘Have you ever shared any flight or travel plans with Alan Joyce without specifically asking for an upgrade?’
Albanese: ‘No.’
Fordham: Was there anyone else at Qantas that you were looking for upgrades with or sharing your travel plans with?
Albanese: ‘No.’
Fordham went on to say that the Prime Minister said he would “just book the economy flights and get an upgrade to the front of the plane, and he wasn’t asking for anything.”
Parker’s (pictured right) work at Qantas managing government relations overlapped with Albanese’s time as Transport Minister.
When asked why he waited so long to respond to the allegations with earlier statements that largely dodged the question of whether he contacted Joyce, Albanese told Fordham that “it had taken several days to review all of his records.”
If Albanese has used private channels to request flight upgrades from Qantas, he may have breached the strict Ministerial Code of Conduct which prohibits ministers from seeking “any form of benefit”.
Former AFR journalist Joe Aston claimed Albanese received at least 22 flight upgrades from the national airline, some of which occurred while he was Transport Minister or Shadow Transport Minister.
In his book, The Chairman’s Lounge, Aston wrote that the Prime Minister would “contact Joyce directly” to request updates.
According to unnamed Qantas sources, 11 of the 22 flights for which Albanese received upgrades were “privately funded” and included overseas trips to Rome, London, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
The book also revealed that, as well as his son Nathan having a “plus one” membership in the Chairman’s Lounge, Mr Albanese’s partner Jodie Haydon also had one.
Albanese previously insisted that all improvements were “properly declared.”
The Prime Minister’s office, Mr Parker and Qantas have been contacted for comment.