Labor MP goes on an outrageous whinge about how Anthony Albanese is hard done by - despite Qantas scandal
Amanda Rishworth has defended revelations Anthony Albanese received dozens of free Qantas flight upgrades, saying the attack on the Prime Minister is a complete pile on.
Amanda Rishworth has defended revelations Anthony Albanese received dozens of free Qantas flight upgrades, saying the attack on the Prime Minister is a complete pile on.
The Minister for Social Services appeared on Nines Today Show on Tuesday morning where the PMs relationship with the national carrier was put under the spotlight.
Excerpts from an upcoming book by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston, The Chairmans Lounge, listed at least 22 free upgrades on economy tickets, dating back to 2009, when Mr Albanese was a transport minister under the Rudd government.
In his book, Aston also claims Mr Albanese personally approached former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to get dozens of free Qantas flight upgrades including with an international partner on a trip to Rome.
I think this has been a complete pile on on the Prime Minister. I mean, hes publicly declared very, very clearly what he has been gifted, as has other MPs, Ms Rishworth told host Karl Stefanovic.
And I think the pile on from the Coalition really shows that I think theres something to if you are in a glass house, dont throw stones.
Weve seen many other MPs declare upgrades and rightly so, and they need to declare them. But Peter Duttons taken upgrades. Bridget McKenzie has taken upgrades.
You know, this is needs to be declared on the public register.
Amanda Rishworth has defended revelations Anthony Albanese received dozens of free Qantas flight upgrades, saying the attack on the Prime Minister is a complete pile on
Stefanovic then asked Ms Rishworth if she had ever personally called up Mr Joyce to ask for an upgrade.
Me personally? No I havent rung Alan Joyce for an upgrade, she said.
I have been housebound, I havent gone very many places. Ive got two young kids so I dont get to travel as much as some other people. But no, thats not something that Ive done.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said there was a difference between receiving a gift and declaring it on your register to actually getting on the blower and saying, listen, mate, the missus and I are going overseas on a holiday, how about upgrading those economy tickets?,.
I dont know of another transport minister who had a hotline to the CEO of Qantas to request freebies for family holidays, she said.
When asked if she thought a senate inquiry should be held into the matter, Ms McKenzie said people are rightly furious about this.
Excerpts from an upcoming book by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston, The Chairmans Lounge, listed at least 22 free upgrades on economy tickets, dating back to 2009, when Mr Albanese was a transport minister under the Rudd government (Pictured is Anthony Albanese with his partner Jodie Haydon and former Qantas boss Alan Joyce)
Ms Rishworth hit back said Labor was the one who supported Qantas workers in terms of redundancies and pay increases.
In his new book, Aston also claimed that shortly after being elected as PM in May 2022, Mr Albanese asked then-Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to make his son Nathan, 23, a member of the Chairmans Lounge, an invitation only perk of the airline.
Mr Albanese defended the arrangement saying his son became his plus one after his marriage to former Labor MP Carmel Tebbutt ended.
But that does not account for his partner Ms Haydon also reportedly being a plus one for the Lounge.
It is also claimed in The Chairmans Lounge book, that Nathans Chairmans Lounge membership was not listed on Mr Albaneses register of interests, which logs gifts of significance to MPs.
Mr Albanese said he had declared every single flight upgrade which were purchased by himself.
From time to time members of parliament receive upgrades, whats important is that they are declared, all of mine have been declared, I note that a range of them go back a long period of time, he said.
They have all been declared, which is what is appropriate.
While he said it was a personal matter on whether politicians accepted the benefits from airlines, he said his relationship with Mr Joyce was the same as the one he shared with former Virgin Australia boss John Borghetti.
