Lindsay Fox barbecue grilling for Anthony Albanese and Daniel Andrews

The Coalition says Anthony Albanese has questions to answer after attending a five-hour social gathering at billionaire Lindsay Fox’s Portsea mansion with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

Lindsay Fox with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in Melbourne in June 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

The Coalition says Anthony Albanese has questions to answer after attending a five-hour social gathering at billionaire Lindsay Fox’s Portsea mansion with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, to which the Prime Minister was transported in the trucking magnate’s private helicopter.

Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley said while emergency services were flying in to support the people of Western Australia, “the Prime Minister was taking a private helicopter ride to have a barbecue with billionaires”.

“What does that tell you about the Prime Minister’s priorities when there is a national crisis?” she said. “The Prime Minister was fond of saying that a prime minister only has two jobs. I think dealing with a national emergency is certainly one … I don’t think taking a private helicopter ride to … a barbecue with billionaires should rate as one of those two jobs.”

Mr Albanese and Mr Andrews attended the event, described by the Prime Minister as a “private meeting”, on Saturday afternoon. Mr Albanese was picked up by the chopper after a press conference in Geelong, and taken back to the Fox-owned Avalon Airport in the evening to fly to Western Australia to survey flood damage.

Asked what he and Mr Albanese had discussed at the event – also attended by Mr Fox’s son, Linfox airport and property division managing director Andrew Fox – Mr Andrews said: “It was a barbecue, so lots of things get discussed at barbecues.”

He denied government business had been on the agenda.

“No, no, it was a barbecue, it was a social occasion. It was a barbecue and I will boldly predict that it won’t be the only barbecue I go to this summer,” he said.

Mr Andrews also denied Fox family business interests had been discussed. “No, and I’m not sure whether you’re trying to insinuate that there was anything inappropriate. That’s simply wrong. It was a barbecue.”

The Premier rejected suggestions there had been “lots of criticism” of his close relationship with the Fox family. He said he was not required to declare any element of the event under parliamentary rules, implying he did not receive any gifts or services that need to be disclosed.

Mr Andrews said he had been driven to the event by his taxpayer-funded driver, under standard security arrangements that see him provided with 24-hour Victoria Police staff.

The Premier announced he would be on leave “for the next couple of weeks”, during which time Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan will act as premier.

On Thursday, Ms Ley said Mr Albanese should answer questions about his attendance.