Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday defended the free flight upgrades he received from Qantas following allegations he corresponded directly with the national carrier’s former CEO to move him to business class.
Australian media, citing excerpts from a new book by journalist Joe Aston, reported that Albanese made several direct phone calls to former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce before becoming prime minister and got his tickets upgraded on 22 flights between 2009 and 2019 .
Albanese, who was federal transport minister from 2007 to 2013, rejected the claims, saying he had declared all flight upgrades he had received.
“I have been completely transparent about this. All my flights have been properly declared,” Albanese told reporters.
“In my time in public life, I have acted with integrity, I have acted in a manner that is completely appropriate and I have made declarations as per the rules.”
Albanese said he had only official talks with Joyce, adding that some of the upgrades he received were paid for by the Labor Party.
It is not rare for Australian politicians to receive free upgrades on flights, although they are obliged to announce such gifts and many are offered luxury lounge memberships.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said on Monday it would be “a strange arrangement” if Albanese, managing the Transport Ministry, could approach Qantas directly for ticket upgrades.
“I’m not aware of anyone else having done this,” Dutton said during a media briefing.
Qantas did not immediately respond to a Reuters request seeking comment.
Last year, the centre-left Labor government led by Albany faced accusations of favoring Qantas by blocking a request by Qatar Airways to increase its flights to Australia.
The government said aggressive body searches of female passengers, including five Australian women, at Qatar airports in 2020 were a factor, and Albanese told parliament he received no lobbying from Qantas.
The allegations come as Albanese struggles with low voter approval ratings amid high living costs and mortgage rates.
A Newspoll survey conducted for The Australian newspaper this month showed Australia’s opposition Liberal-National coalition overtaking the Labor government for the first time after the May 2022 election, while Albanese’s ratings fell to an all-time low.
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