Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied claims he called then-Qantas CEO Alan Joyce asking for flight upgrades.
With the prime minister facing scrutiny over the 22 upgrades he has received from the national carrier, his office put out a statement refuting the allegations that he called the Qantas boss to request the pro-bono trips up to the pointy end of the plane.
“The prime minister did not ever call Alan Joyce seeking an upgrade,” the statement said.
READ MORE: How many politicians would pass the flight upgrade pub test?
“All travel has been appropriately declared and is a matter of public record.”
It comes after a new book by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston claimed Albanese contacted Joyce to arrange the upgrades.
“According to Qantas insiders, Albanese would liaise with Joyce directly about his personal travel,” an edited extract from The Chairman’s Lounge, published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, claimed.
“While other Qantas executives could authorise ‘space available’ upgrades in flight bookings, meaning an upgrade would occur only if there was an empty business or first class seat after check-in had closed, only Joyce could issue ‘confirmed’ or guaranteed upgrades, the kind that Albanese was treated to.”
More to come.
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