The travel habits of Anthony Albanese’s beloved dog Toto have come under scrutiny as it was revealed he had likely been traveling on VIP flights with the Prime Minister.
National Senator Bridget McKenzie grilled Air Force Chief Robert Chipman in an intense Senate hearing on Wednesday about Toto’s travels.
“Could you please provide us with a list of all flights since May 21, 2022 on which animals, and specifically an animal named Toto, have been allowed on board special purpose aircraft?” she asked.
Chipman confirmed that a pet was known to travel on the special plane used primarily by the Prime Minister for official duties.
“I am aware that there is a history of VIPs traveling with pets on VIP planes,” he said.
“(But) we don’t keep comprehensive records of when animals travel on VIP planes.”
Albanese is pictured with Toto after casting his vote in the federal election.
Australia’s first dog Toto (pictured) is believed to have been traveling with the Prime Minister on the special purpose plane.
Pets on VIP flights do not need to wear muzzles, but must be restrained with some type of harness, the air marshal said.
All animals remain the responsibility of the passenger, not the crew or pilot on board.
Senator McKenzie, who recently led an inquiry into the decision to block further Qatar Airways flights to Australia, attempted to find out exactly how many times Toto had been invited on the plane.
‘Are the animals registered on the flight manifest?’ she asked.
Chipman said it was not standard practice to do so, but there were occasions when the presence of an animal on a special purpose aircraft was “noted”, so it was then added to the formal manifest.
“I don’t have records of how often (it happens),” he said.
“I know we have records that indicate this has occurred.”
The government has been facing criticism for its refusal to reveal certain details about special-purpose flights, citing safety concerns for those on board.
But McKenzie argued there “surely” wouldn’t be as much concern about revealing the identity of the pets on board.
Chipman confirmed that a pet was known to travel on the special plane used primarily by the Prime Minister for official duties.
Toto often appears in photographs with the prime minister and became a celebrity in his own right during the intense campaign period leading up to the 2022 election.
“The safety coordination committee’s advice does not specifically address naming animals on the plane,” Mr. Chipman admitted.
But because of the haphazard way pet travel is recorded, Chipman was unable to answer a direct question about the number of flights Toto in particular has taken since Albanese became prime minister in May 2022.
Toto often appears in photographs with the Prime Minister and became a celebrity in his own right during the intense campaign period leading up to the 2022 election.
The dog divides her time between her owner’s residences at Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra when parliament meets.
“Toto has a particular brand of dog food, it’s the only one she eats – yes, she’s a princess,” the Prime Minister told Nova radio station earlier this year.
The dog divides her time between her owner’s residences at Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra when parliament meets.