‘Straight answer’: Question Albo can’t escape

The Coalition has questioned whether Anthony Albanese acted “on behalf of Qantas” when Labor made the decision the block Qatar Airways from operating additional flights into Australia.

The Prime Minister is facing calls to refer himself to the national anti-corruption body.

Mr Albanese has deflected questions on whether he personally solicited free upgrades on flights from ex-Qantas boss Alan Joyce dating back to when he was a transport minister under the Rudd government.

On Wednesday, opposition senate leader Simon Birmingham said Mr Albanese needed to state whether his relationship with Mr Joyce impacted Labor’s controversial decision to block Qatar from operating extra flights in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth in September last year.

He said Mr Albanese needed to confirm he did not “exercise his prime ministerial authority … to protect Qantas” that meant “Australian aviation customers were given less choice and greater costs”.

“If you’re having a debate about indeed the influence, it is also whether that influence was used and exerted by the Prime Minister in terms of protecting, potentially, Qantas’ interests and he’s never given a straight answer on that,” Senator Birmingham said.

“That’s really where he should be pressed to give a direct answer. Did he ever actually act, as prime minister, recently on behalf of Qantas?”

At the time, Mr Albanese said had not been lobbied by Qantas prior to Transport Minister Catherine King making the decision.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Mr Albanese needed to confirm whether he personally called Mr Joyce for the upgrades and more importantly whether his relationship with Mr Joyce influenced his decision making.

“Now, not giving a straight answer to that question is the point here, and after soliciting upgrades, if indeed that’s what’s happened, did he then prioritise the interests of a company over ordinary Australians in a cost-of-living crisis?” she told Sky.

She also echoed Peter Dutton’s call for Mr Albanese to refer himself to the National Anti-Corruption Commission so he can “demonstrate that he’s done nothing wrong”.

A spokesperson for Mr Albanese has rejected the Coalition’s claims.

“This has all been on the record for more than two decades,” they said. 

“The latest suggestion from the Opposition Leader is a pathetic attempt at creating a headline.”

Labor ministers have continued to defend Mr Albanese in media interviews, with Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth accusing the Coalition of launching a political “pile on”.

“It’s a complete pile on the Prime Minister. Peter Dutton can’t explain his use of Gina Rinehart’s private jet,” she said.

“So, quite frankly, I think there’s a lot of politics here and a lot of hypocrisy from the opposition.”

Amid the ongoing controversy, Labor has pointed to the Opposition Leader taking a flight in November 2022 courtesy of mining magnate Gina Rinehart and 69 flight upgrades declared by Liberal MP Paul Fletcher.

Mr Fletcher said the flights were conducted for work-related purposes and were given to him because he chose to fly economy on flights under two hours.