Calls are growing on both sides of politics for an independent review of how privately-owned airlines like Qantas “blur the lines” of how they favour politicians to protect market share.
Amid an explosion of anger about flight perks granted to MPs and senators, sources told the ABC the parliament should address shifting community expectations.
One of the nations most respected experts on public integrity, former judge Anthony Whealy, said a major overhaul of disclosure rules are needed to “get rid of big money out of politics”.
It is understood a number of federal politicians are reviewing their travel histories to ensure they are in line with parliamentary disclosure rules.
The issue erupted this week after author Joe Aston published claims Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asked former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to help secure upgrades.
The prime minister has denied the claims and on Wednesday used a cabinet meeting to reassure ministers that he has done nothing wrong and that he is being victimised by the media, said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity to the ABC.
“Obviously Albo is rattled about it. It’s front-of-brain and occupying the government,” they said.
Labor has sought to push attention onto Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who admitted on Thursday that his office solicited a flight on a private jet owned by billionaire Gina Rinehart. Earlier in the week, Mr Dutton said he had not made such a request in person.
Anthony Albanese, pictured at a Qantas event with Alan Joyce last year, has defended his flight upgrades. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
Despite attention spreading beyond Mr Albanese’s relationship with Mr Joyce, there is ongoing consternation, including inside Labor, that it took almost five days for the prime minister and his office to categorically deny the Qantas upgrade claims.
At the same time, the uproar has spread from a concern about the appropriateness of Albanese’s links to Qantas into a broader storm over how politicians benefit from the largesse of carriers in often subtle ways.
Shadow transport spokesperson Bridget McKenzie told the ABC late on Thursday that there needs to be greater transparency over how politicians are upgraded and how often.
Senator McKenzie has herself become entangled in the saga and has written to Qantas, Virgin and the Rex administrator for an accurate record of every upgrade she was given.
One concern is that the airline’s booking systems use algorithms to identify VIP passengers, bumping them to better seats even within the economy section.
Bridget McKenzie has taken aim at Qantas’ lobbying tactics. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)
“That takes a variety of forms. Aggressive lobbying and now the seduction of a prime minister,” she said.
“Whatever happens with everyone’s upgrades and family trips, the substantive issue for this democracy was that a corporation was able to reach deeply into a man and government more broadly to control its own destiny.”
Qantas has been seen as the major winner of the federal government’s decision last year to reject a bid by Emirates to expand its international flights from Australia.
Senator McKenzie said she is “very comfortable” with her behaviour in regards to Qantas.
“I have not been conflicted in this and my track record against Qantas shows this,” she said.
“I’m very comfortable with where this lands because I want a more competitive aviation sector.
“And if I become aviation minister I will make that happen. And that’s a problem for Qantas and they know it.”
Calls for an inquiry to review perks
A senior Labor source said one solution for Mr Albanese would be to appoint some kind of independent eminent person to review the travel arrangements of politicians.
“Get a cleanskin to come and look at the whole disclosure thing, and what are community expectations and best practices.”
Such a review should not be retrospective, and would be about improving public confidence rather than finding fault.
Centre for Public Integrity chair Anthony Whealy KC said only a major overhaul to “get rid of big money out of politics” would fix the problem.
“That means we have to cap donations, we have to cap campaign spending,” he said.
“If we address all those things holistically, the effect will be that the big donations will stop. All the donations that are pouring into government, and they all expect to get access and to influence.
“Once they get their foot inside the door and they’ve got ministers and chiefs of staff on first-name terms, then they start offering freebies and gifts to cement that relationship.”
But the former judge insisted an inquiry to audit the freebies handed out to politicians would only delay action.
“It’s out of control but … I don’t think having an inquiry is going to do anything other than delay doing something about it, because all of the parliamentarians and ministers will do their best not to see this system changed.”
He wants a code of conduct, such as the one signed by ministers, to be adopted by all parliamentarians to address the receipt of gifts, which Mr Whealy says should only be accepted in “exceptional circumstances”.
