Albanese’s Qantas upgrades won’t fly with the public

The scandal over Anthony Albanese’s reported requests for Qantas upgrades is yet another sign the tone-deaf Prime Minister is heading for the departure gate, writes Tim Blair.

Anthony Albanese hasn’t quite entered the prime ministerial departure gate, but he’s definitely made it through baggage check.

And what a terrible load of baggage the PM is now carrying.

Fresh from his extraordinarily ill-timed decision to drop more than $4m on a clifftop mansion, Albanese is now accused of leaning on his old mate, former Qantas boss Alan Joyce, for free flight upgrades on overseas trips.

To be sure, the issue here isn’t that Albanese received upgrades. Anyone who flies as frequently as the prime minister and other notables can expect to be granted the occasional free promotion.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has faced criticism for requesting flight upgrades from former Qantas boss Alan Joyce.

Nor is the issue to do with Albanese reporting that free upgrades were obtained.

The issue, as former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce accurately put it, is if the upgrades were requested. At that point, the upgrades shift from being a simple perk of high office to being matters of privilege and compromise.

“It’s whether you solicit it,” the former deputy PM said. “If you ring up Alan Joyce, that’s the issue. That’s an issue that Mr Albanese has to explain.”

Add it to the list.

Albanese still has not fully explained the thought processes that led him to splurge on a mansion during a housing crisis.

Nor has Albanese dealt publicly at any great length with his impossible election promise to reduce power prices.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in happier times. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

We await, too, expansive prime ministerial explanations about his government’s erratic energy policies and staggeringly poor attitudes regarding ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

At a certain point – and this Qantas upgrade scandal may be that point – Treasurer Jim Chalmers must start considering his leadership options.

In fact, Chalmers may have little choice but to begin some mental calculations, because right now his PM seems increasingly eager to become an ex-PM.

Australians are generally very tolerant when it comes to the expenses and advantages enjoyed by our politicians; more tolerant than we should be, perhaps.

But we don’t cop secret mate’s rates deals easily. This isn’t good.