Backtracking Coalition hits turbulence in attack on PM over free flight upgrades

The issue of upgrades and free flights has now engulfed both sides of politics, with the Coalition having to explain some of its travel arrangements after going hard against Anthony Albanese all week.

The Prime Minister was forced to fend off accusations he used his influence and friendship with Alan Joyce to gain almost two dozen free and upgraded Qantas flights.

In the days when Mr Joyce was the airline’s boss and the Prime Minister was the transport minister (and then the Opposition leader), at least 22 flights were upgraded for Mr Albanese from economy, according to a new book by Joe Aston.

The book claims Mr Albanese initiated calls with Mr Joyce, although the PM has denied that.

Once the news broke, Shadow Transport Minister Bridget McKenzie was one of the Prime Minister’s harshest critics over the matter.

She has threatened to have Mr Joyce hauled before a Senate inquiry to answer the claims over Mr Albanese soliciting flight upgrades.

“We really do need to understand the influence that the Prime Minister’s personal and financial gain through these upgrades for he and his family have had on his personal intervention in protecting Qantas from competition,” Senator McKenzie said early in the week.

But by Friday (1 November), the Nationals senator had to backpedal somewhat over statements she made about her own travel declarations.

While initially insisting she had never received an upgrade, Senator McKenzie told ABC Radio she actually had and was wrong to have said she hadn’t.

“I think it was wrong of me to be so emphatic earlier this week,” she said.

“I don’t probably believe I should be subjecting other people to standards I’m not prepared to subject myself to.”

She has now instigated an audit of her travel to determine how many more upgrades she has received.

“The difference between myself and the Prime Minister is that the Prime Minister was the minister for transport,” she added.

“He was actually in charge of regulating the aviation sector.”

The Shadow Minister also found herself defending Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over his travel on billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s private jet.

The PM made reference to Mr Dutton’s private travel arrangements earlier in the week when defending his own.

“I’ve been completely transparent about this,” the PM said on Tuesday.

“Just as Peter Dutton declared his flights or some of his flights, there is a difference between both of us,” Mr Abanese said.

“My flights were commercial with Qantas or Virgin or Emirates. They were all declared in the appropriate way.

“I didn’t have to declare any flights on private jets owned by billionaires like Gina Rinehart, because I haven’t engaged in it, as simple as that.

“I have always acted in an open and transparent way.

“In my time in public life, I have acted with integrity, acted in a way that is entirely appropriate, and I have declared in accordance with the rules.”

Mr Dutton has to back down himself after denying his office had asked Ms Rinehart for use of her private jet so he could attend a Bali bombing memorial service in Sydney.

He has subsequently changed his story.

Asked about that during her radio interview, Senator McKenzie tried to play it down.

“I don’t think we need to always think that people assisting has a quid pro quo,” she said.

“And that’s why it’s important to have public declarations and important to look at behaviour.”

Education Minister Jason Clare has admitted he asked for and received a free flight upgrade from Qantas for personal international travel overseas in 2019.

He said he made the request after having surgery to remove a melanoma, but had declared it in his pecuniary interests at the time.

“Good pick-up, that was a personal trip,” Mr Clare said when asked about it during Sky News interview.

“That was a situation where I had just got out of hospital, I had surgery on my leg and, yep, I asked for an upgrade and I was assisted by Qantas.”

During an earlier interview on Channel Seven, the Minister said the vital thing was to declare any upgrades or free flights.

‘The bottom line is where it happens, declare it, fill out a form, make sure that the whole world can see about it,” he said.

All federal parliamentarians are required to continually update a register of interests of gifts and anything else that could constitute a conflict of interest.

They must make the declarations within 28 days of receiving the gifts.

There are now calls, from the Centre for Public Integrity as well as insiders from both sides of politics, for a thorough overhaul of the relationship between airlines and politicians.