A e-book claims he repeatedly requested free upgrades for private flights on Qantas Airways
Article content material
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday stated he had all the time “acted in a clear and acceptable method” after a brand new e-book claimed that he had repeatedly requested free upgrades for private flights on Qantas Airways.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Albanese, who was transport minister in a earlier authorities, was accused in a e-book launched Monday of growing an inappropriately shut relationship with Alan Joyce, who was Qantas chief govt for 15 years till 2023.
Qantas is Australia’s largest airline and was state-owned till the Nineties. The Sydney-based airline is the nation’s flag provider and should by legislation stay not less than 51% Australian owned.
“In accordance with Qantas insiders, Albanese would liaise with Joyce immediately about his private journey,” a printed extract of the e-book stated. The insiders weren’t named.
Albanese stated he had declared 22 free Qantas upgrades in a register of items to lawmakers valued at greater than 300 Australian {dollars} ($197). He famous opposition lawmaker Paul Fletcher had declared 69.
Your Noon Solar
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
“I’ve declared every little thing in accordance with the entire guidelines,” Albanese advised reporters.
“I’ve, always — always — acted in a clear and acceptable method,” he added.
Albanese stated on Tuesday he solely recalled two conversations with Joyce about promotional flights. These flights didn’t contain private journey.
“There’s no accusation being made with any specifics in any respect about any of this. None. None,” Albanese stated.
Albanese famous the e-book’s writer, Joe Aston, was a former opposition get together staffer and former Qantas worker. The e-book is titled “The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Bought Us Out.”
Joyce couldn’t be instantly contacted for remark. Qantas didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Commercial 4
Article content material
Opposition chief Peter Dutton later accused Albanese of breaching the then-government’s code of ministerial conduct when he was transport minister from 2007 till 2013.
The code explicitly banned ministers from looking for or encouraging any type of reward of their private capability.
Dutton challenged Albanese to refer the allegations to the Nationwide Anti-Corruption Fee, the general public sector watchdog that Albanese’s center-left authorities established final 12 months.
“Australians are actually beginning to query the integrity and the truthfulness of their prime minister,” Dutton advised reporters on Tuesday.
Albanese stated Dutton wanted to elucidate why he had accepted free flights from mining magnate Gina Rinehart in a non-public jet. Dutton declared three flights in Rinehart’s jet in 2022.
“What that you must do is ensure you keep on with the principles. I’ve achieved that always,” Albanese stated.
Aston, who was till final 12 months a columnist at The Australian Monetary Evaluate, wrote that Qantas acquired greater than 80% of federal authorities spending on home flights final 12 months. The Australia Monetary Evaluate is a part of the 9 Leisure secure, which additionally printed the e-book extract.
Aston writes that authorities’s shut relationship with Qantas explains the choice final 12 months to reject Qatar Airways’ bid to double its providers to Australia.
Article content material
