Anthony Albanese contacted a Qantas executive to receive free flight upgrades rather than former CEO Alan Joyce, according to explosive new allegations, as the Prime Minister denies theyre true.
Sky News host Sharri Markson made the claims on Wednesday as the Prime Minister for the first time issued a categorical denial he contacted Mr Joyce or anyone at Qantas directly to ask for the perks.
Markson claimed Andrew Parker, who oversaw Qantas government and international affairs, personally handled Mr Albaneses flight upgrades to business class during his political career, which included being transport minister.
Mr Parker held his senior job at Qantas between May 2013 and July 2021, overlapping with Mr Albaneses time as transport minister between December 2007 and September 2013.
Mr Albaneses relationship to Mr Parker was close enough to attend a housewarming bash thrown by the former Qantas employee at a warehouse in the inner Sydney suburb of Annandale.
Sky News reported there was even a mock plaque on Mr Parkers house, which says it was officially opened by Mr Albanese.
Mr Parkers LinkedIn page shows a post from a month ago with a picture of him standing beside Mr Albanese at the opening of charity Street Side Medics new Melbourne clinic.
From 2017 until 2021 Mr Parker also served as director for lobby groub Airlines for Australia and New Zealand, which represented Qantas alongside Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Rex, and Air New Zealand.
A photo on former Qantas executive Andrew Parkers (pictured far right) LinkedIn page shows him at a charity event with the Prime Minister
The group advocates on key public policy issues such as airport operations and efficient access to domestic airport infrastructure, according to its website.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest any wrongdoing on Mr Parkers part.
Meanwhile, Mr Albanese has now fully denied of reports he requested Qantas flight upgrades from Mr Joyce, telling Sydneys 2GB radio that he also did not text or email the airline boss for an upgrade, nor did he seek upgrades from anyone else at Qantas.
2GB host Ben Fordham on Thursday said he was in contact with Mr Albanese last night to fill in some of the gaps in his statement.
Sky News host Sharri Markson claims Mr Albanese was close enough to Mr Parker (pictured) to attend his housewarming party
Fordham read out the following exchange on air.
Fordham: Did you ever text Alan Joyce about flight upgrades?
Mr Albanese: No.
Fordham: Did you ever email Alan Joyce about flight upgrades?
Mr Albanese: No.
Fordham: Did you ever share with Alan Joyce any flights or travel plans without specifically asking for an upgrade?
Mr Albanese: No.
Fordham: Was there someone else at Qantas you were seeking upgrades from or sharing your travel plans with?
Mr Albanese: No.
Fordham continued, saying that the PM told him he would just book the economy flights and get an upgrade to the front of the plane, and he wasnt asking for anything.
Mr Parkers (pictured right) Qantas job managing government relations overlapped with periods Mr Albanese was transport minister and shadow transport minister
Asked why he waited so long to respond to the allegations with previous statements largely dodging the question of whether he contacted Mr Joyce, Mr Albanese told Fordham it had taken a number of days to go through all of his records.
If Mr Albanese has used private channels to request flight upgrades from Qantas he may have fallen foul of the strict Ministerial Code of Conduct which prohibits ministers from seeking any kind of benefit.
Former AFR journalist Joe Aston claimed Mr Albanese received at least 22 flight upgrades from the national carrier, some of which occurred while he was transport minister or shadow transport minister.
In his book, The Chairmans Lounge, Aston wrote that the Prime Minister would liaise with Joyce directly to request the upgrades.
According to unnamed Qantas insiders, 11 of the 22 flights Mr Albanese received upgrades for were privately funded and included overseas trips to Rome, London, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
The book also revealed that as well as son Nathan having a plus one Chairmans Lounge membership, Mr Albaneses partner Jodie Haydon did as well.
Mr Albanese previously insisted that all upgrades were declared in the appropriate way.
The Prime Ministers office, Mr Parker and Qantas have been contacted for comment.