Anthony Albanese has tried to claim his relationship with Alan Joyce was
a strictly professional one between a Prime Minister and a corporate
titan, as he battles claims the Qantas boss was his 'personal travel
agent' for free flights and upgrades.
However that characterization of the relationship was at odds with that
made by Mr Joyce, who said he was 'good mates' with Mr Albanese and had been 'for years'.
In the wake of the explosive claims that the Prime Minister had Mr Joyce arrange free tickets
and upgrades, Mr Albanese distanced himself from the Qantas chief.
When asked about about their relationship on Sunday Mr Albanese
implied it was purely in a professional capacity, having been Transport Minister and shadow transport spokesperson before
becoming Prime Minister.
'He (Joyce) was the CEO of the national airline ... I had
the same relationship with him that I have with John Borghetti as the CEO of Virgin,' Mr Albanese said.
That assessment was at odds with the many photos showing
Mr Albanese and Mr Joyce apparently greatly enjoying each other's company.
Mr Albanese and Mr Joyce were pictured in high spirits on the red carpet at
the Qantas 100th Gala Dinner in March last year.
In photos from the event, Mr Joyce proudly walks the red carpet with one arm around the
prime minister and the other around Mr Albanese's
partner, Jodie Haydon.
Just five months later, in August, a smiling Mr Albanese attended Qantas's
unveiling of it's special 'Yes 23' emblazoned airplanes for the Voice referendum.
Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce jovially walked the red carpet with one arm
around the prime minister and the other around his partner, Jodie Haydon for a special anniversary event last year
Mr Joyce was seen touching Mr Albanese's arm, with the PM bursting into laughter.
Even when Scott Morrison was PM, Mr Joyce enjoyed an apparently
close relationship with Mr Albanese as the pair stood close together at
the launch of the Qantas' landmark Perth to London flight in March, 2018.
During a Senate hearing in September 2023, Mr Joyce said he
had been 'friends for years' with Mr Albanese.
Asked about why he gifted Mr Albanese's son Nathan a membership to the prestigious and exclusive Chairman's Lounge Mr
Joyce refused to confirm or deny but talked up his relationship
with the Prime Minister.
'I've been good mates with Albo for some time,' Mr Joyce said.
However, the then Qantas CEO refused to say whether he lobbied the
Prime Minister on the controversial decision to lock competitor Qatar Airways out of domestic routes.
It has since emerged in a new book about
Qantas, The Chairman's Lounge, by former Australian Financial
Review columnist Joe Aston that Ms Haydon is
also a Chairman's Lounge member.
Mr Albanese and Mr Joyce also appeared to greatly enjoying each other's company
at a Qantas event in August last year
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Reports have emerged in a new book Mr Albanese received 22 upgrades from economy
from Qantas and he would liaise personally with the former
airline boss for them.
Aston also alleged Mr Albanese directly contacted Mr Joyce while in his various parliamentary jobs to ask for special
upgrades for himself or his family.
According to unnamed Qantas 'insiders' 11 of the 22
flights Mr Albanese received upgrades for were 'privately funded' and included overseas trips
to Rome, London, Los Angeles and Honolulu, with some being
for holidays.
Mr Albanese insisted on Tuesday that the London flights was for work purposes and all were 'declared in the appropriate way'.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has leapt on the accusations
describing Mr Albanese as being the 'best friend' of Mr
Joyce.
Mr Dutton told Sky News on Monday night it was 'strange' Mr Albanese had directly contacted Mr Joyce to request upgrades while holding a
regulatory position in the transport sector.
'If you're the Transport Minister and you're picking up the phone to one
of the most important stakeholders in the portfolio asking for a free
upgrade, then again, I think the Prime Minister would be able to answer those questions more effectively than anyone else because
I'm not aware of anyone else having done it,' Mr Dutton said.
It has since emerged that Ms Haydon also has membership of the Qantas Chairman's
Lounge
The Prime Minister denied frequently asking Mr Joyce for upgrades on Tuesday at press
conference in the NSW city of Newcastle.
'The only discussions that I can recall with Alan Joyce certainly were not discussed through calls - we discussed
the first flight from Australia to Dubai on the A380,' he said.
'I've declared everything in accordance with all of the rules.'
Aston was asked on Monday night by ABC interviewer Sarah Ferguson about how confident he was that Mr
Albanese had made calls personally to Mr Joyce for upgrades.
'I am very comfortable with my sourcing,' Aston said.
Asked whether he thought Mr Albanese had been influenced by Mr Joyce's lobbying to block UAE airline Qatar domestically Aston said it was 'implausible' to
think that the Prime Minister's office had nothing to do with
the decision.
Mr Albanese's son Nathan, 24, has reportedly also been granted access to the Qantas Chairman's Lounge (pictured,
Mr Albanese and son Nathan in May, 2022)
'It's very hard to imagine a decision of any political sensitivity in the
Albanese government that would not go through the Prime Minister's office,' Aston replied.
He noted the opening up of the Australian domestic market Qatar
had seemingly been sailing through with Transport Minister Catherine King speaking warmly about the proposal until 'everything changed' to stop
it dead in tracks.
Ms King repeatedly denied in parliament the decision to block
Qatar was due to Qantas lobbying her or any Labor colleagues.
Despite Mr Albanese claiming he declared every upgrade received from
Qantas the Australian Financial Review reported on Tuesday that he failed to do for his former wife Carmel Tebbutt when the two traveled together.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has questioned the alleged personal requests Mr Albanese
made to Mr Joyce while in his various parliamentary jobs
Even when Scott Morrison was prime minister, Mr Joyce appeared to have a close relationship with
Mr Albanese (the pair are pictured at an event in 2019)
Sky New host Sharri Markson on Monday night labeled
Mr Joyce as 'basically Albanese's personal travel agent.'
'This is all a question of integrity. Most Australians struggle to afford even an economy airfare.
They'd never be able to afford the luxury of business class.
It's out of our reach,' she said.
'Can Albanese truly be impartial when it comes to making decisions about Qantas when he's been getting tens of thousands
of dollars worth of free upgrades to business class?
The revelations puts the decision he made as transport
minister and prime minister under a cloud.
'Aside from the integrity issues, this revelation is also
politically lethal. Albanese took care to curate a self-image of a housing commission boy who made it.
But now the perception is cementing of a long-term pollie enjoying the
perks of public office.'
Another awkward paradox of Mr Albanese's apparent
close relationship with Mr Joyce is that the Labor leader in a trade unionist advocate while Qantas attempted to break the power of the Transport Workers Union by sacking 1700 staff during Covid.
The sacking has since been ruled illegal by Federal Court in a case brought by the union with Qantas facing possible hundreds of thousands in compensation payouts.
The friendship however did find one perhaps unlikely defender in semi-retired 3AW radio star Neil Mitchell.
'Quick test: upgrade Albo is a bad look,' Mitchell wrote on X.
'But does anybody believe he was seriously compromised by having Alan Joyce as a
bestie? Time to rewrite rules governing politicians.'
WHAT IS THE QANTAS CHAIRMAN'S CLUB?
The Qantas Chairman's Lounge is an invitation-only club approved by the company chairman,
with the guest list a closely-guarded secret.
It has been dubbed ¿the most exclusive club in the country¿ and comes with a distinct black card.
Members include senior-ranking MPs including ministers, state premiers and the Prime Minister,
leaders of major unions and sporting groups, Qantas ambassadors,
selected A-list celebrities, major corporate figures and
high-profile media personalities.
The clubs can be found in Sydney, Melbourne,
Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide but are not signed,
you have to know where to look.
Inside you will find expensive wood and brass furnishings, wool carpet and marble
flooring all bathed in natural light.
Members enjoy fine à la carte dining with a complimentary
premium array of beers, spirits and Australian wines.
Wine bottles are often given as departing gift
Facilities may also include spas, showers and an assortment of books
and magazines.
Members may bring in two guests at a time.
Lounge attendants personally alert you when your flight is to board and your
personal preferences are logged for each flight. Membership
also entitles you to first-class facilities at Qantas partner airlines.
free upgrades where they are available and a hotline to Qantas's customer
service for any and all travel needs.
Source: Executive Traveller
LondonAnthony AlbaneseQantas
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