Australian PM accused of seeking upgrades from Qantas boss

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been accused of asking for escaped idiosyncratic formation upgrades straight from the erstwhile CEO of nationalist bearer Qantas.

A caller publication by Australian writer Joe Aston claims Albanese made respective calls to ex-CEO Alan Joyce, and received upgrades connected 22 flights taken betwixt 2009 and 2019.

In a property league connected Tuesday, Albanese refused to reply whether helium had antecedently spoken to Joyce astir idiosyncratic upgrades, but said helium followed the rules and said helium was "completely transparent" with each of his disclosures.

Albanese, who antecedently served arsenic national transport minister, besides criticised Aston, saying helium was "trying to merchantability a book".

In his book, titled The Chairman's Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out, Aston - a erstwhile absorption enactment staffer - cites Qantas insiders arsenic saying Albanese would talk to Joyce astir his idiosyncratic question plans, according to media reports.

It is not unheard of for Australian politicians to get escaped formation upgrades though they are required to state specified gifts, according to Reuters.

In a property league connected Tuesday, Albanese refused to reply whether helium had personally spoken to Joyce astir upgrades, but said helium did callback having 2 conversations with Joyce astir flights that did not impact idiosyncratic travel. He besides added that immoderate upgrades were paid for by the Labor Party.

"In my clip successful nationalist life, I person acted with integrity, I person acted successful a mode that is wholly due and I person declared successful accordance with the rules," helium said.

Australia's shadiness transport minister, Senator Senator Bridget McKenzie has called for an enquiry to opened to analyse the alleged formation upgrade requests.

"There are superior questions which lone Mr Joyce and the Prime Minister tin answer," she said.

The allegation comes arsenic Albanese struggles with debased support ratings and arsenic Australians are mired successful a lodging crisis.

Last year, the Albanese authorities faced allegations it blocked Qatar Airways petition to summation flights to Australia, a determination that favoured Qantas.

Qantas, Australia's nationalist carrier, has successful caller years seen its just stock of scandal.

Joyce was main enforcement for 15 years and led the institution done the 2008 planetary fiscal crisis, the Covid pandemic and grounds substance prices.

However, by the clip helium stepped down successful 2023, Qantas was facing increasing nationalist choler implicit precocious fares, wide delays and cancellations arsenic good arsenic its attraction of workers.