Peter Dutton says Anthony Albanese “breached” ethics standards over free Qantas upgrades
Peter Dutton has blasted Anthony Albanese for “breaching” ethical standards expected of ministers after he allegedly solicited free flight upgrades.
Peter Dutton has accused Anthony Albanese of “breaching” the ministerial code of conduct, and said he should personally refer himself to the federal integrity commission after reports he solicited flight upgrades from former Qantas boss Alan Joyce.
Under the Gillard government’s Standards of Ministerial Ethics, ministers are “required to exercise the functions of their public office unaffected by considerations of personal advantage or disadvantage”.
While they can accept gifts “in accordance with the relevant guidelines,” they must “not seek or encourage any form of gift in their personal capacity”.
It states ministers must also not seek or accept “any kind of benefit or other valuable consideration either for themselves or for others”, and should not come under any obligation to individuals or organisations “to the extent that they may appear to be influenced improperly in the performance of their official duties as minister”.
However the Opposition Leader said Mr Albanese’s actions clearly breached the code and Mr Dutton said the Prime Minister should refer himself to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
“Certainly, on the face of reading the Gillard government minister of code of conduct, the Prime Minister has breached that by his own admission,” Mr Dutton told reporters on Tuesday.
“Now he might say that there’s a defence or that there’s a reason or dispute the facts, but there’s nothing that the Prime Minister said that’s coherent, other than he picked the phone up to Alan Joyce to request an upgrade of airfares.”
Mr Dutton took successive jabs at Mr Albanese and said his “integrity” was in question.
“He gets angry, and he’s not a good person under pressure, which is never a good trait in a prime minister, but it seems to me that the prime minister just can’t be trusted,” he said.
‘Beyond desperate’: Author hits back at Albo
The author at the centre of the flights upgrade furore around Anthony Albanese has called the Prime Minister “beyond desperate” for suggesting he was hiding his past as a Liberal staffer with ties to Qantas.
In fiery remarks on Tuesday, Mr Albanese said he did not “see declarations” that Joe Aston, a former Australian Financial Review journalist, was a “Liberal Party staffer for a number of senior members of the Liberal Party, including Joe Hockey and Bruce Baird.”
“I don’t see declarations that he’s a former Qantas employee,” he said.
“I don’t see declarations that in June, a few months ago, he was a guest … at a Liberal Party fundraiser in the electorate of Wentworth.”
But Aston has hit back, saying he “disclosed” his political past on the fist page of his book.
“It is disclosed on the first line of the first page of the book, and has never been a secret,” Aston posted on X, along with an extract.
“This is beyond desperate from the PM.”
It is disclosed on the first line of the first page of the book, and has never been a secret. This is beyond desperate from the PM. pic.twitter.com/nDeisDIym3
— Joe Aston (@mrjoeaston) October 29, 2024
Mr Albanese has been weathering Coalition jabs since Aston claimed in a book the Prime Minister had a direct line to former Qantas boss Alan Joyce for flight upgrades.
He also said on Tuesday he was “far from being the most frequent person” to get a seat boost, claiming Liberal frontbencher Paul Fletcher had “been upgraded at least 69 times that he’s declared – 69.”
“He’s been in parliament for less time than I’ve been in,” he said.
Aston wrote in his book, The Chairman’s Lounge, that Mr Albanese personally solicited and secured 22 free upgrades from Mr Joyce while he was transport minister.
The Prime Minister refused to say whether he called Mr Joyce for upgrades, insisting he has followed declaration rules to the letter.
“In my time in public life, I have acted with integrity. I have acted in a way that is entirely appropriate, and I have declared in accordance with the rules,” he said.
“Even today I declared a cookbook. I declared it today because I declare things even when there’s no obligation to do so, I’ve always erred on the side of caution.”
Mr Albanese also said he was “far from being the most frequent person” to get a seat boost, claiming Liberal frontbencher Paul Fletcher had “been upgraded at least 69 times that he’s declared – 69.”
“He’s been in parliament for less time than I’ve been in,” he said.
Aston wrote in his book, The Chairman’s Lounge, that Mr Albanese personally solicited and secured 22 free upgrades from Mr Joyce while he was transport minister.
The Prime Minister refused to say whether he called Mr Joyce for upgrades, insisting he has followed declaration rules to the letter.
“In my time in public life, I have acted with integrity. I have acted in a way that is entirely appropriate, and I have declared in accordance with the rules,” he said.
“Even today I declared a cookbook. I declared it today because I declare things even when there’s no obligation to do so, I’ve always erred on the side of caution.”
The Coalition has jumped on Aston’s claims, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton calling Mr Albanese’s upgrades “a bit strange” and senior Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie demanding an inquiry.
Mr Albanese hit back at them both, pointing to Mr Dutton’s history with private flights, at least one of which was paid for by mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
“In terms of transparency, Bridget McKenzie can answer questions herself about things. Peter Dutton can answer questions about his flights,” he said.
“I assume, his flights, upgrades, the same circumstances I am in with the exception that I don’t have access to a private jet on call which has happened with Mr Dutton and it is up to him to explain that.”
Mr Albanese also accused Mr Dutton of making politics personal, saying was “concerned” the Opposition Leader “seems to be obsessed with making attacks on myself, my family”.
“My obsession … is with helping Australians every day, every day,” he said.
“Peter Dutton seems to be determined to just be arrogant and nasty every day. That is up to him but I will to do my job.”
MCKENZIE DODGES QANTAS QUESTION
Senator McKenzie, who is leading calls for a probe into Mr Albanese’s relationship with Qantas, earlier on Tuesday dodged questions about her own experience with the airline.
In an explosive morning show exchange on Tuesday, she took a shot at Amanda Rishworth after the Labor frontbencher defended Mr Albanese.
Ms Rishworth said Mr Albanese had “publicly declared very, very clearly what he has been gifted”.
“I think the pile on from the Coalition really shows that I think there’s something to ‘if you are in a glass house, don’t throw stones’,” she told Nine’s Today.
“We’ve seen many other MPs declare upgrades and rightly so, and they need to declare them.”
Asked by host Karl Stefanovic if she had “rung” Mr Joyce for a better seat, the Social Services Minister said: “No. No, I haven’t rung Alan Joyce (or) anyone about an upgrade.”
She went on to say her portfolio and family commitments kept her from travelling as much as others.
Stefanovic quipped that it was not the “most convincing answer” to a “pretty simple question” before turning to Senator McKenzie, who also took a dig Ms Rishworth’s response but then repeatedly failed to answer if she had “called management” for an upgrade.
“Amanda’s answers aside, this is a serious problem,” she said.
“The problem is that I don’t know of another transport minister who had a hotline to the CEO of Qantas to request freebies for family holidays.
“That’s actually what we’re dealing with here.”
Pressed again, she said she was “happy to answer it” but instead went on the offensive again.
“There’s a difference to receive a gift and declare 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?” Senator McKenzie said.
After a third and final time being pitched if she had ever called Mr Joyce “or anyone in Qantas”, she still did not answer the question.
“I do not have a hotline to request upgrades,” she said.
Big move 50 years on from Cyclone Tracy
Survivors of “the destructive force of nature at its very worst” have gathered with politicians to mark 50 years since the Australian tragedy.
Fresh blow for would-be homeowners
The International Monetary Fund has poured cold water on a key housing policy which would make it easier for first-home buyers to get a loan.
Albo’s tribute to Cyclone Tracy survivors
Political leaders have paid tribute to the victims and survivors of the devastating Christmas Eve cyclone that devastated Darwin and claimed 66 lives.