Anthony Albanese defends Qantas upgrades; Qld Labor take solace in Greens losses; Candace Owens’ visa cancelled

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called reports that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would directly contact former Qantas chief Alan Joyce to arrange flight upgrades “a bit strange”.

Echoing the sentiment shared by Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce earlier this morning, Dutton said there was nothing unusual about the occasional flight upgrade, but criticised Albanese for allegedly “calling [his] best friend Alan Joyce” to arrange upgrades.

“I think it is a bit strange that Mr Albanese is contacting the CEO of an airline when he is the minister for transport,” Dutton said.

“If you go to the airport, and based on either load factors or decisions the airline makes otherwise for them to upgrade, that is perfectly appropriate, as the rules apply equally to everyone,” Dutton said.

Loading

“But if you are the transport minister and you are picking up the phone to one of the most important stakeholders in your portfolio, asking for a free upgrade, then again I think the prime minister would be able to ask those questions more effectively than anyone else because I am not aware of anyone else having done it.”

Asked about the 15 upgrades he has declared, Dutton said that figure was across his 23 years in parliament, noting that he averages nearly 200 flights a year.

“None of these happened when I was transport minister, because I have not been the transport minister, and none of it happened as a result of me calling my best friend, Alan Joyce, at Qantas.”