Coalition will demand answers over Albanese’s Qantas revamp

“There are clearly serious questions that only Mr Joyce and the Prime Minister can answer,” she said.

“We are considering all options to get to the bottom of the nature of the relationship between the Albana government and Qantas – a relationship that has resulted in negative consequences for shareholders, employees and loyal customers.”

Labor members, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted the prime minister was under pressure. But Brisbane MP Graham Perrett said Albanese had been treated unfairly.

Asked for his opinion on the controversy, Perrett responded with an ax emoji and said: “It’s definitely rough work. And I’ll tell Bridget McKenzie about it the next time I see her drinking champagne in the President’s Lounge.

Employment Minister Murray Watt said Labor had taken responsibility for Qantas on labor relations and other issues when the coalition sided with the airline, such as when Joyce grounded the fleet in 2011 during a dispute with unions.

Watt said Qantas opposed the government’s “same work, same pay” laws because they included pay rises for salaried workers, but the government continued to make changes while the Liberals and Nationalists opposed the laws.

“I think any honest observer would have to say that we have not been shy about challenging Qantas when they have done wrong by their workers or customers and, in fact, it was the Liberal and National parties that took responsibility for Qantas’ side on these questions,” he told ABC Radio National.

Parliamentary financial interest registers show the majority of MPs and senators agree to free Qantas lounge membership and the Virgin Australia equivalent, while many also report free upgrades.

For example, Dutton accepted a Qantas upgrade for himself and his wife in December last year, as well as 14 other free flights and upgrades from various companies over the past decade.

The Opposition Leader admitted he agreed to the upgrade, but said he flies about 190 flights a year and never asked Joyce for an upgrade.

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Public Services Minister Bill Shorten defended Albanese, with Shorten saying the Prime Minister had been transparent, but both saying they never asked Joyce for an upgrade.

McKenzie recorded the upgrade on her register of interests in February 2018.

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