Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected claims he called former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce to request flight upgrades.
Mr Albanese has been under pressure to explain his ties to the former airline boss following reports from a new book that claimed he received at least 22 free Qantas upgrades while in the transport portfolio.
But in a statement issued late on Wednesday night, a spokesperson for Mr Albanese said he “did not ever call Alan Joyce seeking an upgrade”.
Anthony Albanese says he only had limited interactions with Alan Joyce while in the transport portfolio. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
“All travel has been appropriately declared and is a matter of public record,” a spokesperson said.
It’s understood the prime minister’s office has been combing through travel records in recent days.
The spokesperson did not elaborate on whether Mr Albanese used other means, such as texts, to request upgrades.
Labor frontbenchers reiterated their support for the prime minister when asked about the saga on Wednesday, insisting the government’s focus was squarely on the cost of living.
“I think the PM’s answer to all these questions – he is fastidious about detail, about putting declarations and making those where they need to be made, and he’s done that,” Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Mark Butler told ABC’s AM that the cabinet was “completely solid” behind Mr Albanese.
Independent senator David Pocock criticised the prime minister for not clarifying the issue earlier.
“I think a lot of people wish he would have said that at the start. Probably could have saved some of his ministers a lot of painful interviews trying to, you know, defend him,” he told ABC’s 7.30.
But the ACT senator said the saga was part of a “much broader issue” of transparency and lobbying.
“This has to be part of a much broader conversation in Australia about just how ridiculously loose our laws are when it comes to transparency, and lobbying, and the release of ministerial diaries. It’s not up to standard,” he said.
“This system that facilitates this cosy relationship between politicians who are meant to be making the rules for industry, and industry, who don’t want those rules made.”
Speaking at the National Press Club, minister Pat Conroy pointed the finger back at the Coalition, urging voters to judge the government on its actions.
“Right now, we’re implementing the same job, same pay legislation that will deliver $30,000 pay rises to Qantas labour hire workers who are being discriminated against right now,” he said.
“Who has been on the side of Qantas in all those battles? Peter Dutton and (shadow transport minister) Bridget McKenzie, they’ve taken all those upgrades and they’ve been on the side of Qantas every single step of the journey.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Dutton accused the prime minister of tying himself in “all sorts of knots” to avoid saying if he requested the upgrades from Mr Joyce.
“It’s a pretty simple question to answer,” he said.
