The senior opposition senator leading the charge over Anthony Albanese’s alleged links to Qantas now faces serious questions about her own travel habits.
Bridget McKenzie has reportedly failed to disclose more than a dozen free flight upgrades since entering parliament in her register of interests.
Last week, the Coalition leader wrote to Qantas, Virgin and Regional Express Airlines (Rex) to check whether the airlines had given her any special treatment amid the furore over claims the Prime Minister requested seat increases from the former boss of Qantas, Alan Joyce.
Qantas and Virgin responded to Senator McKenzie by confirming she got more than 12 upgrades, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported, citing sources.
If confirmed, the Coalition leader could face severe sanctions for seriously breaching disclosure rules.
Meanwhile, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor dodged questions while speaking to reporters in Canberra on Wednesday morning.
“I don’t know if any of that has been verified,” he said, adding that Albanese’s alleged Qantas profits were the “real problem”.
Last week, McKenzie became caught up in the public fury over the Qantas upgrades by first denying that she had benefited from one and then admitting that she had.
Anthony Albanese has denied claims that he personally called former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce to request flight upgrades (the two are pictured in August 2023).
He said a review of travel rules by the Department of Finance was not necessary.
“They just need to act to ensure the government’s travel provider offers public officials the lowest-cost practical fare the first time, rather than offering Qantas as the default option,” Senator McKenzie said.
McKenzie told the ABC on Friday that “it was wrong of me to be so emphatic” in her initial claim that she had never received an update from Qantas.
“I probably don’t think I should hold other people to standards that I’m not willing to hold myself to.”
Claims in a new book that Albanese personally asked the former Qantas chief executive for 22 flight upgrades, including 11 for personal trips, have outraged Australians.
The Prime Minister denied making such requests and said all benefits received from Qantas had been properly declared.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Senator McKenzie for comment.