Flight upgrades for work OK, but voters frown on MPs getting holiday perks

More than a third of voters marked down Anthony Albanese over claims he solicited upgrades from Qantas – more than those who disapproved of his holiday house purchase – but many others were indifferent as the majority of Australians want an end to MPs of all stripes receiving perks for personal trips.

Labor and the Coalition spent weeks brawling over travel gifts after the prime minister was accused in a book by journalist Joe Aston of liaising with former Qantas boss Alan Joyce to get moved from economy into higher classes. Albanese denied ever personally asking Joyce for upgrades.

More than a third of voters marked down Anthony Albanese over claims he solicited upgrades from Qantas.Credit: Fairfax Media

The saga widened to include Opposition Leader Peter Dutton when Labor highlighted his flights on the private jet of Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart. Coalition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie, the lead opposition prosecutor of Albanese, was embarrassingly forced to declare 16 flight upgrades after initially stating she had not received any.

Even though 37 per cent of people surveyed in this masthead’s latest Resolve Strategic Monitor said they had a more negative opinion of Albanese after the Qantas issue, the same amount said it did not affect their view and 6 per cent said it gave them a more favourable perception.

McKenzie was on Wednesday still threatening a Senate inquiry into the Albanese-Joyce saga and whether Labor favoured Qantas in decisions on airline competition, a day after the competition watchdog revealed prices on some routes more than doubled in the months after Rex Airlines’ collapse.

“My concern over the past 18 months has always been the fact that Mr Albanese’s financial and personal relationship with Qantas has seen their dominant market share protected over the interests of customers,” she said in a statement.

It does not appear likely McKenzie will gain enough support for an inquiry because the Greens and independent David Pocock will back her only if the Senate examines the wider issue of airline perks and lobbying across all parties. McKenzie wants a narrower probe, and Labor will not support any inquiry.

The Qantas blow-up was the latest in a line of negative news stories that have raised questions about Albanese’s political judgment, even within his party. Those events included the Tourette’s sledge for which he swiftly apologised, the walkback of his directive to ditch contentious census questions on LGBTQI characteristics, and his purchase of a $4.3 million holiday home. The beachside property purchase was negatively viewed by 27 per cent of voters and had no effect on 45 per cent.

On the broader question of travel upgrades, 36 per cent of respondents said they accepted politicians would be upgraded for work flights but they should be banned for personal trips; 25 per cent said all forms should be banned; and 23 per cent nominated no change, the rest being unsure.

Nearly half of voters, 45 per cent, were comfortable with MPs retaining their membership of the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge as long as they declared it, while 39 per cent believe MPs should turn down the membership and 15 per cent were unsure. Higher income earners, who would likely travel on planes more for work, were slightly more likely to support MPs’ retaining memberships.

The Resolve Political Monitor surveyed 1621 people from the middle of last week to Sunday, revealing a tightening contest before an election due by May next year. Support for the Coalition lifted from 38 to 39 per cent, the highest level Resolve has recorded since the last election, while Labor was unchanged at 30 per cent, more than 2 percentage points below the last election.

The opposition was expected to target Labor and Albanese on the Qantas issue in parliament last week, but barely asked a question on the topic as focus shifted to McKenzie’s conduct.

After Dutton asked Albanese last month to come clean on his dealings with Joyce, he was pressured to explain his relationship with Rinehart, Australia’s richest woman, as Labor put a spotlight on his use of her jet for work trips. Dutton has previously said he would be the mining sector’s best friend.

About 65 per cent of respondents said they were aware of Dutton’s travel on Rinehart’s plane, 35 per cent said they did not care and 21 per cent thought more negatively of the alternative prime minister.

About 30 per cent said it was OK for Albanese to accept the upgrades he received from Qantas, while 44 per cent said the same of Dutton accepting Rinehart’s travel offer.

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