Anthony Albanese has broken his silence after days of scrutiny over his relationship with Qantas and its former chief executive Alan Joyce and whether he called him for flight benefits.
“The Prime Minister never called Alan Joyce to request an upgrade,” a spokesperson said.
“All trips have been properly declared and are a matter of public record.”
While Albanese has previously dodged questions about whether he had called Joyce to secure the flights, his office is understood to have reviewed records dating back to when he was first elected to parliament in 1996.
Reports have emerged in a new book. Albanese received 22 economy class upgrades from Qantas and would personally contact the airline’s former boss to obtain them.
In recent days, the opposition has branded the prime minister “incoherent” and urged him to refer himself to a corruption watchdog after using inflammatory spray over flight upgrades.
In turn, he accused opposition leader Peter Dutton of being “obsessed” with attacking him and his family, in a heated tug-of-war between party leaders.
Albanese said all flights had been listed in accordance with the rules for federal MPs.
Anthony Albanese’s office has said he never called former Qantas boss Alan Joyce for flight upgrades.
‘I have been completely transparent about this. “All my flights have been declared appropriately,” he told reporters in Newcastle on Tuesday.
‘What you have to do is make sure you respect the rules. I’ve done it every time.’
Albanese said 10 of the 22 flights were carried out during a 2013 Labor Party leadership contest.
The Prime Minister also attacked, saying Coalition MPs had received more flight upgrades from Qantas, while accusing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of making up the criticism.
“Peter Dutton seems to be obsessed with attacking myself and my family, and trying to participate in this obsession,” he said.
‘Peter Dutton seems determined to be arrogant and unpleasant every day. “That depends on him, but I will continue doing my job.”
Albanese challenged the opposition leader to explain the flights Dutton received from mining billionaire Gina Rinehart.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said voters had a right to be “furious” about the travel improvements and called for Joyce to be called to appear before a Senate inquiry.
The Prime Minister has been going around for days without directly giving a direct response to the claims.
Former AFL star Adam Goodes, Albanese and Joyce at a Qantas event in 2023
‘I don’t know of any other Transport Minister who has telephoned the CEO of Qantas to request gifts for family holidays. That’s what we’re dealing with here,’ he told Nine’s Today programme.
“Being Transport Minister is a serious job and is seen as asking for gifts.”
Labor Minister Murray Watt said the Prime Minister had met all the rules for MPs.
‘If anyone looks at Anthony Albanese’s record they will see that he has not been doing Qantas any favours. “He has consistently confronted Qantas on a number of issues,” he told AAP.
“The suggestion that his relationship with Qantas or its former CEO influenced his decision-making is completely at odds with the actions he has taken.”
Independent senator David Pocock said the revelations about the travel arrangements highlighted the need to change political rights.
‘There are very legitimate questions to answer. “There’s a terrible, terrible aspect,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“But I think this has to be part of a larger conversation about how shocking and basically useless our lobbying laws are in this country.”