Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie apologises for not disclosing 16 business class flight upgrades

A Coalition senator has made a startling declaration after leading the Opposition’s attack on Anthony Albanese’s alleged ties to Qantas.

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has confirmed she failed to declare she had received 16 free flight upgrades, after leading the Opposition attack on Anthony Albanese’s alleged ties to Qantas.

Despite initially stating she had never received a free upgrade, the Coalition transport spokeswoman has now updated her interests log to reveal a total of 16 business class flight upgrades, three of which were obtained at the flight gate on domestic work trips between 2023 to 2024.

The most recent dates back to August 18 of this year.

The remaining 13 were obtained between 2015 to 2019 on both international and domestic flights.

This brings Senator McKenzie’s total number of upgrades to 18 since she entered parliament in 2010.

In a statement, Senator McKenzie apologised for her mistake.

She said she had “never sought free upgrades, which has been affirmed by the airlines to the extent of their records”.

“Today I have updated my Statement of Interests following receipt of advice from Qantas, Virgin Australia and the administrators of the Rex Group,” she said.

“I have never sought free upgrades, which has been affirmed by the airlines to the extent of their records.

“Deficiencies in disclosing these matters do not meet the expectations of the Australian people and the parliament and were an oversight on my part, and for this I apologise.

“I have and will continue to prosecute the Albanese Labor government’s failure to ensure greater competition in the aviation sector on behalf of all Australian travellers.”

Senator Bridget McKenzie has officially declared receiving 16 free business class upgrades. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Last week Senator McKenzie spoke at length criticising claims made in The Chairman’s Lounge, a new book by journalist Joe Aston, which stated the Prime Minister had received 22 flight upgrades, some which were he solicited through ex Qantas boss Alan Joyce.

Mr Albanese has since denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor dodged questions while speaking to reporters in Canberra on Wednesday morning.

“I don’t know that any of that’s been verified,” he said, adding that Mr Albanese’s alleged Qantas perks were the “real issue”.

Earlier this week teal independents announced they were cancelling their cancelling their VIP lounge memberships.

Allegra Spender led the charge on Monday, calling out both Labor and the Coalition for enjoying favours from airlines while not boosting competition in Australia’s aviation industry.

All federal MPs and senior public servants are given access to the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge.

‘Freebies’: Push for ban after flights saga

The Greens are calling for a total ban on free flight upgrades for politicians amid furore over revelations around MPs’ travel perks.

Parliamentarians have been scrambling to get their mandatory declarations in order since Anthony Albanese was accused of soliciting free seat bumps from former Qantas boss Alan Joyce.

The ensuing scrutiny has painted a picture of Australia’s elected representatives enjoying cosy relationships with airlines.

Greens transport spokeswoman Elizabeth Watson-Brown said on Wednesday MPs get paid enough and do not need “freebies when they travel.”

Greens transport spokeswoman Elizabeth Watson-Brown (centre) is calling for a total ban on free flight upgrades. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“This is about restoring trust and integrity in how MPs and senators engage with the aviation sector,” Ms Watson-Brown said.

“Banning free flight upgrades would help curb any potentially inappropriate behaviour from MPs and prevent airlines from wielding undue influence over political decisions.”

She said it was “completely understandable for people to be questioning Qantas’ relationship with the very same MPs and ministers that regulate them.”

“In a cost-of-living crisis that’s seeing people across the country struggle to pay for food and rent, MPs on generous salaries don’t need to be getting freebies when they travel,” Ms Watson-Brown said.