‘Whopping rumour’ over Anthony Albanese’s taxpayer-funded trip to Brisbane
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dodged a question over a recent taxpayer-funded trip to Brisbane following a “whopping rumour”.
Anthony Albanese has dodged questions over whether he squeezed in a $5000-a-head Labor fundraiser in Brisbane on Thursday night during a pit stop as he visited flood-affected families in Townsville.
VIP flight records show that the Prime Minister took a 90-minute trip to Townsville on Thursday afternoon, landing in Brisbane at 2.47pm before attending several functions, including the campaign launch for Labor’s candidate for the seat of Brisbane, Madonna Jarrett.
The seat is currently held by the Greens’ Stephen Bates.
Mr Albanese then took off on the taxpayer funded jet at 9.14pm, landing in Alice Springs at 11.31pm for announcements in the Northern Territory.
Mr Albanese confirmed overnight that he will commit $842 million over six years to strengthen the delivery of services in remote communities in the Northern Territory, including policing, women’s safety, alcohol harm reduction and “mediation and peacekeeping activities”.
But 4BC presenter Peter Fegan told radio listeners on Friday morning that there was a “whopping rumour” that the Prime Minister’s taxpayer funded jet had landed in Brisbane.
“There was no press conference in Brisbane so what was he doing? We are told he attended a fundraiser at a law firm. Do we begrudge the PM for doing so? Not at all. But using a private jet … does that pass the pub test?” he said.
“Now originally we were told he was in Brisbane dropping the Premier on the taxpayer funded jet but that’s not the truth because guess what? David Crisafulli and his team are still in Townsville.”
But asked about the fundraising event by a reporter on Friday as he left an ABC radio interview, Mr Albanese declined to comment.
News.com.au understands that the Prime Minister had official engagements in Brisbane and launched Labor candidate Madonna Jarrett’s Brisbane campaign with around 200 supporters.
Labor sources also raised the fact that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton chose to attend a Liberal fundraiser at Parliament House on Wednesday night when the hate crime legislation was being voted on in parliament.
Hollie Hughes slammed for complaining about PM visit to floods
Earlier, NSW senator Hollie Hughes came under fire on Thursday after claiming the Prime Minister “purposely” timed his Townsville trip in order to miss the parliament sitting.
“The boss is away. He’s on a plane up to Townsville. Doesn’t want to talk to the Australian people through the parliament today, but he’s up there,” Senator Hughes said.
“It’s convenient timing, some may say, but he’s gone up there. Boss is away. Come on, let’s get some of your other guys up there.”
“I’ve lived through floods and I know how terrible they are, and the flood’s still going to be there after today,” she said.
Senator Watt then told parliament that Senator Hughes’ remarks were “disgraceful”, saying it was “essential” for Mr Albanese to be on the ground.
“We’ve been working incredibly cooperatively with the Queensland government, despite the fact they’re from the other side of politics,” he said.
“It’d be really nice to have the federal opposition decide to support federal government efforts, rather than taking cheap shots and labelling the Prime Minister’s attendance in Townsville as convenient timing.”
Labor Queensland senator Nita Green said flood-ravaged Queenslanders deserved a “full scale response from the Queensland and Australian government,” and called on Peter Dutton to apologise for Senator Hughes’ remarks.
“The Prime Minister is exactly where he should be today, talking to the people of North Queensland and working out how he can best assist along with the Queensland government, that is exactly what we are focused on today, and the people of North Queensland are hearing that directly from us,” she said.
“But unfortunately, Peter Dutton and Hollie Hughes were focused today on attacking the Prime Minister and making light of the floods in North Queensland, it’s completely unacceptable, disgusting, abhorrent, and Peter Dutton should be sent out now to apologise for these remarks.”
Albo activates flood payments for victims
While Mr Dutton gave his support to Mr Albanese’s visit, and did not criticise his decision to miss question time, stating it was “a question of timing”.
“Look, I think it’s right for the Prime Minister to visit. It’s always difficult to know, particularly when the waters haven’t receded or people are still right in the thick of it,” he said.
“I made a decision not to go because I just think the emergency workers are still on the ground. People are still doing dealing with inundation.”
Originally published as ‘Whopping rumour’ over Anthony Albanese’s taxpayer-funded trip to Brisbane
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