Anthony Albanese has a damaging perception problem that undermines Labor’s push to expand cost-of-living relief and prove to Australian families the government understands their financial pain.
Albanese’s log cabin story as the “kid from public housing” has lost its shine, with voters now increasingly viewing the Prime Minister as a career politician who has amassed millions of dollars and a property portfolio headlined by a $4.3m clifftop oceanfront house.
While most don’t begrudge Albanese’s wealth, it’s difficult for the 61-year-old to shake off the fact that politicians of his generation enjoy lucrative perks including retiring on the old, generous parliamentary pension.
Albanese, currently on a base salary of $607,500, is not alone in enjoying a freebie. Politicians across the divide receive flight upgrades, access to VIP airline lounges, gifts and tickets to sporting, musical and cultural events. The perception that some politicians have an inherent sense of entitlement is not new.
The issue for Albanese is his special relationship with former Qantas boss Alan Joyce, who swung in harder than most in backing the Labor leader’s Indigenous voice referendum, with the airline funding flights for Yes campaigners and painting campaign logos on planes.
Before and after the election, Joyce always featured prominently in lists of influential business chiefs who were closest to Albanese.
Their relationship, which ran counter to the disdain held by the Transport Workers’ Union towards the Irish-born executive, traces back to Albanese’s days as minister and shadow minister for transport and infrastructure – roles he held between 2007 and 2019. Joyce, who oversaw Jetstar from 2003, led Qantas as chief executive from 2008 to 2023.
Albanese’s aggressive defence of his contact with Joyce has fuelled Coalition attacks and journalistic investigation.
Links between Albanese and Joyce, many revealed by Joe Aston and explained in detail via his new book, The Chairman’s Lounge, are a bad look for the Prime Minister.
These include: shortly after the 2022 election, Albanese asking for his son Nathan to be granted access to Qantas’s exclusive Chairman’s Lounge; questions over the government’s decision to reject a request from Qatar Airways for new flights amid Qantas opposition; and Albanese receiving 22 free flight upgrades, including some where he liaised directly with Joyce.
Albanese might view some of the accusations levelled against him as unfair because other politicians have done similar things. But as Prime Minister, he needs to accept responsibility for his own actions.
At a time of high interest rates, prolonged bill shock and soaring energy costs, everything he does comes under the microscope.
His overseas travel, much of it unavoidable, has seen him labelled as “Airbus Albo” and being out of touch with punters. In coming weeks, Albanese will attend the APEC and G20 summits in Peru and Brazil – his final overseas trip before a likely March or April federal election.
With Labor behind in the polls and his caucus crying out for more saleable cost-of-living measures, Albanese is facing serious turbulence ahead of what looms as a short Christmas break.
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