Albanese government Education Minister Jason Clare said he “would have to check” when asked if he or his staff had asked for travel upgrades, as the travel perks scandal continues to engulf both sides of politics.
Appearing on Sunrise on Friday, Clare said he’d had four flight upgrades over the past 10 years.
But asked by host Natalie Barr if he or his staff had asked for upgrades, Clare said he would need to check to ensure the answer he gave was an honest one.
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It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was accused of personally soliciting 22 flight upgrades from then Qantas chairman Alan Joyce, including when he was federal transport minister.
The allegations were contained in excerpts — published in the Sydney Morning Herald last weekend — from former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston’s book, The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story Of How Qantas Sold Us Out.
Albanese has rejected the allegations, saying he never contacted Joyce for the upgrades. However, it is unclear if one of his staff at the time had organised any upgrade.
The scandal widened as Opposition leader Peter Dutton this week defended his office asking for a free flight from mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, after the government refused him a seat on a flight to attend a Bali bombing memorial.
And Coalition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie, one of the most vocal critics about the alleged travel perks, also conceded she was wrong about having declared all of her upgrades.
On Friday, as Clare and Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley appeared on Hot Topics, host Barr asked Clare is he had “asked for upgrades” in the past.
“I’d have to check … you have to make sure you’re honest here. I will check,” Clare said.
“You will check if your staff have asked as well?” Barr asked.
“Absolutely,” Clare said.
Barr then asked Ley about the Opposition’s attack on Albanese over the travel scandal, given it is now engulfing both sides of politics.
“Was that a mistake, given your own house may not be in order?” Barr asked.
“I think it’s pretty disappointing, Nat, that Labor is going after Peter Dutton because of a flight to the Bali bombing memorial, after the government refused him a government flight,” Ley said.
“They should’ve supported him going to the Bali bombing memorial, absolutely they should have.
“The issue here is that we’ve got a serious journalist who is saying that the prime minister solicited, sought upgrades to his personal travel while he was that one person in the parliament who was in charge of regulating the laws around airlines.”
Barr mentioned McKenzie, asking: “What about your shadow transport minister who may have broken parliamentary rules, because she can’t remember whether she asked for upgrades?”
“She has asked the airlines and been very transparent and upfront about seeking advice for something she says she may not have a complete recollection of it,” Ley replied.
“Isn’t that what the other side are doing?” Barr asked.
“Not at all. Remember that one person in the parliament who has the executive responsibility for regulating the laws around airlines. We just haven’t got a straight answer from the prime minister,” Ley said.
Both Ley and Clare defended the time taken by both sides to get flight information from their office before making public statements.
However, Clare claimed: “That’s the difference between the prime minister and Peter Dutton — Peter Dutton was asked the same question and he lied. The key here is, declare it if it’s happened and be honest about it.
“Where Peter Dutton has come unstuck, this is not about the Bali bombing, this is about basic decency and honesty.”
— With AAP