‘About as bad as it can get’: Albanese gives ‘part answer’ on Qantas flight upgrades

GXO Strategies Director Cameron Milner has criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s “part answer” about Qantas flight upgrades which is “about as bad as it can get”.
The Prime Minister has denied ever asking former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for flight upgrades.
“It’s about as bad as it can get,” Mr Milner told Sky News host Andrew Bolt.
“This is a bonfire in the vanities for Albo.
“This has taken four days for him to come clean with a part answer.”

[@Protectiontoisrael]

He doesn’t care. He’s only looking to retire as a coastie. Strip his entitlements.

[@paulmack5778]

Jenny's a coastie

[@TheSilmarillian]

And on a life time pension we could only dream of.

[@donendusted2]

The coastie with the brand new roadie.

[@astroanthobbies3801]

Bang on he doesn’t care, used the system his whole life. I’m just upset Australian people couldn’t see it.

[@JIMDEZWAV]

Upgrade Albo is out of control , he's done , finished , it's all over for upgrade Albo ....

[@PhilipRanson-d5t]

Definitely corruption and needs to be investigated

[@geoffreybreasley9845]

Different laws for different ass holes

[@lizardinparadise]

If Albo and his government believe that nothing is wrong. Call an election in December and let the people "voice" their opinion!

[@roz7441]

They wouldn't be game

[@jasonfranich5601]

They have to call it soon enough ​@@roz7441

[@evanshapley-sc9np]

As usual Albo's gone into hiding until his crew can organise a distraction.

[@malcolmhector2641]

Yah another stuff up .

[@roz7441]

And decide who in his department will take the fall for him

[@TrevorByrne-r6f]

What do you expect from a liar and gutless coward

[@malcolmhector2641]

@roz7441 to late know for a scapegoat.

[@Peter-p5u8t]

I betcha it was his pooch Toto 🐕 ✈️😂😂😂

[@catdog726]

Liar Liar Liar albo

[@waynetowers5828]

He’s a liar

[@richardtravers8772]

Of course he didn't approach Alan Joyce, he had his own Senior QANTAS Executive to organise his free upgrades.

[@australiafirst520]

If No One spoke to No One, Did they see his name on the Manifest and Upgrade accordingly?

[@amandalee8803]

​@@australiafirst520He should have declined these upgrades 💯 Himself family and private holidays not acceptable

[@chrisg8321]

​@australiafirst520 He has the money, when he booked he would have paid for first-class himself.... Unless he "knew" he could get freebies

[@australiafirst520]

@@chrisg8321 Agree with you there. The effort to hide and deflect away from this only increases the Stink.

[@TomSteindl]

​@@australiafirst520and a very foul stench.

[@josa9902]

WHAT WAS HE THINKING. HOW DID HE NOT UNDERSTAND A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. CHARMERS NEEDS TO GO AS WELL FOR PROTECTING HIM

[@simonsays1370]

Absolutely. All his staff are backing him like underlings.

[@ScottRichmond-nh5uj]

CRIMINALS IN THE LODGE...😡

[@Peekaboo-Kitty]

He has a strong self of "entitlement" because he's the PM.

[@SueNicholls-95]

​@@Peekaboo-Kitty he THINKS he's the PM but he's useless and has done SFA apart from dividing Australians with his VTP. Alboneidle should have resigned after his referendum defeat because since then he's not done a thing!!!

[@ScottRichmond-nh5uj]

@Peekaboo-Kitty NARCISSIST

[@letmeexplain1816]

It makes me damn mad when there's Australians struggling and homeless even, while he's living in the lap of luxury. Get your despicable snout out of the money trough Albo, and dim Jim is just as bad !! Its utterly deplorable and shameful !!

[@SA-nv5tc]

Albo deflecting to Dutton flights just proves he is guilty!

[@MrMeldarionx]

Like most "union officials" they treat others money as a personal slush fund.

[@paulmack5778]

Weasel

[@waynetowers5828]

He’s a Skunk

[@matthewflinders1978]

Airport Albo is squirming now😂🤣😂

[@wl2977]

Another name is: public housing Albo.

[@markanderson8739]

The support by Qantas for albos yes to the voice campaign takes on a new perspective now

[@julethompson9591]

We previously called Albo "Airbus Albo" now it's "AIRBUS UPGRADE ALBO". What's next

[@TheSilmarillian]

I seem to remember he got the government to buy two jets for their personal ....sorry work trips.

[@whitegum56]

@@TheSilmarillian Yes he did that is true

[@Martinoconnor-du6lc]

i call him anal

[@tonyhewitt1125]

So now it's Lying Airbus Upgrade Elbow.

[@jimmycook872]

Labor BS again and again and again. When will it all end.

[@roz7441]

Next election?

[@whitegum56]

My honest answer to that question is God only knows.

[@joannemurdock7899]

​@@whitegum56ALLEGEDLY he became PM on 30 % of the votes so when.people Stop voting for the Greens , Labor will be out😮

[@DannyHawthorne-w9t]

He has complete contempt for the Australian people he loves to live off the taxpayers money it’s his style I hope you all noticed that

[@claytonleslie]

Tick tock. That's my style, hope you've noticed that. We certainly have noticed!

[@PatriciaSaunders-d9v]

Albo is not answering questions and now Albo has got the labor party lying for him now why don’t you just own up to your BS Albo

[@debbiefisher2921]

These guys will tell you anything and they really dont care if the australians believe it or not so what does that tell you

[@OdinDogOfRoar2024]

He picked up the phone and asked for free gifts therefore he should be tapped on the shoulder considering Barry O’Farrell was made to resign over a $3000 Bottle of Wine 👍

[@TheSilmarillian]

And I still don't understand how P wrong escaped the dual citizenship purge the swamp gets deeper.

[@ozzinedyoutubechannel1851]

and the Voice colaberation with Albo and Joyce

[@StephenBrowne-e5l]

I wonder how long they were sitting on this information before they made a move on it.

[@mk1479]

More than likely the decision was made in a lodge with the 33rd deg bricklayers. They have to have a scapegoat.

[@matthewb9824]

Jim Chalmers is point-blank asked if there's anything wrong with Albanese accepting and/or requesting upgrades from Qantas while he held the position of Minister for Transport, a portfolio that includes regulation of airlines such as Qantas. His answer was no. He couldn't even look the reporter straight in the eye when he said that. That body language tells me he doesn't believe what he's saying. No sane person would say it's okay to accept gifts and/or special treatment from an airline over which you have great power to help them while hurting their competition. Of course it's a conflict of interest! Of course he should not be accepting anything whatsoever from Qantas or any airline while he was Minister for Transport or now as he is Prime Minister. Optics is everything in politics and the optics of this are devastating for Albanese. One has to wonder, and rightfully so, if Chalmers is quietly working the numbers behind the scenes to see if he can get rid of Albanese to take the top job himself before the election next year. But if Chalmers truly and honestly believes in his heart of hearts that there's nothing wrong with what Albanese did, then he should resign from parliament too.

[@brettbeckinsale5691]

Totally agree

[@memine3704]

He's a liar and traitor. Not a one of them could lie straight in bed.

[@anthonygioia888]

Jimbo is so embarrassed he looks down into his files!! 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@johnlewis9516]

Hes not fit to be Prime Minister

[@JoyMartin-rk4pm]

Or even in Parliament at all.

[@tamimrktz6966]

He doesn't have answers. He needs to simply go.

[@australiafirst520]

It gets frustrating listening to Him, goes on with everything else, except what He has been Asked.

[@whitegum56]

@@australiafirst520 That is where, he is an excellent politician because that is what they learn at uni, how to deflect from questions and give no real answers. It is unfortuneate but it has become an art form with pollies these days.

[@australiafirst520]

@@whitegum56 Yes I suspected it was something they Learnt, All seem to do it.

[@JoyMartin-rk4pm]

@@australiafirst520 He's not even good at deflecting......like everything else. What a waste of space!

[@joannemurdock7899]

So ablow can u answere the question Deflection Deflection Deflection 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@lornatodd4750]

The answers is easy Albosleezy its either, "yesh or no."

[@scrooge1970]

Untenable Albo

[@gregs8086]

So Jim Chalmers admits unethical behaviour is okay.

[@BlackVSV6]

The LIES are always loud, the truth is always quiet…..👍

[@barbq1976]

Dutton is doing him slowly - to use Keating's expression. It started off "did Albanese call Alan Joyce". Now it's "did anyone from Albanese's office call Qantas". Albosleazy is squirming as the screws tighten..

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Yes their current campaign to use the Covid spending as a comparison for their own economic issues, is just ridiculous! How do we plan ahead for a serious pandemic? How long ago was the Spanish Flu, over a hundred years! They are truly pathetic! 🧐

[@markpatterson2811]

What sort of man is this honestly

[@davannaleah]

3 words for this...'on the take'...

[@lisanewton3154]

Labor and Greens Last

[@JoyMartin-rk4pm]

Nowhere is even better👎

[@memine3704]

Yep, and LNP 3rd last. Traitors to the country, those parties should all be charged, disbanded and banned.

[@joannemurdock7899]

Mr Ant Bolonee ALLEGEDLY works for getting his perks 😮 Not for the Australian people 😮

[@PaulAnthony-o8h]

He said “there’s a private line for bookings” they were his own words - he’s breached his own rules for ministers & must be sacked now!

[@benscheelings7401]

Can we subpoena Alan Joyce to front a Senate inquiry - then we will know the truth.

[@neilblackburn6869]

Yet again transparency from lisping Ant

[@patrikdobradi509]

Each Way Albo must go asap, hope that this is the final nail in the coffin for him

[@Zeemutt01]

Albo-Lies-Easy again!

[@destinyangel5]

It's just like a crook on the run , who knows what to do when they are being investigated and need to be interviewed by the Police in relation to an alleged indictable offence. The crook will do what ever it takes to avoid getting tied to a story This is done by hiding , obfuscating and making stuff up.

[@MichaelMarsalek]

Just keeps getting worse for these clowns hey. I just hope the public can see through their BS and vote them.out next election. He's a disgrace and inept. Should never have been PM

[@Lee-sti8wrx]

I'm just curious as to why this has only just come out? and why there isn't any type of committee to just focus on government corruption and the violation of these gifts? And if anyone says there is and names them, then they aren't doing their job and should be sacked. The prime minister should be sacked and his whole cabinet.

[@PaulSmith-ss6zm]

Thats his style

[@chriscorrigan7420]

How can he face the Commission with all of these jokers [ his mates ] are in the Lounge as well? It needs to be a completely independent Inquiry.

[@Brosef1974]

“Flying Albotross flight fa1313 now boarding “ 😁

[@barbq1976]

Seems the upgrades were always from Economy bookings, which gives more $$ value than an upgrade from Business. Did he ever Fly Economy when an economy flight was booked? .. or did he always get lucky and have upgrades.

[@joannemurdock7899]

Yes allegedly every private overseas trip he booked for him and family was economy, Then he gets it upgraded 😮ALLEGEDLY sneaky?.squeaky Albaneeezyyyy one media commentator said these up upgrades can be worth tens of thousands of $$

[@GeoffMcMahon]

We must change the way we govern ourselves...our politicians are all second rate citizens

[@rayweh-bfa4966]

Just milk it up till you get the flick can't wait

[@benjamincrouch583]

How about us, the general public just start doing whatever the fk we want disregarding rules and laws….. Clearly every politician get to do whatever the fk they want with no reproductions…. 🤬

[@xxHydroponicxx]

Well, someone contacted Qantas to advise them that Albanese was booked in for a flight - how else would Qantas have known he was booked on a flight and gone about organising the flight upgrades??

[@OldBismarck]

You do realise that very frequent travelers get free upgrades without asking. I've been given a few over the years and I don't nearly travel as much as a politician.

[@xxHydroponicxx]

@@OldBismarck yes, i do, but not at the reported number that the PM has received over the years.

[@OldBismarck]

@@xxHydroponicxx 20 upgrades in 10 years it what I heard he got. Well I got 4 upgrades in 2 years when travelling regularly so that's on par. Since that time I've received none as my travel frequency plummetted and to Qantas I now look like any other tom dick or harry. Plus a minister of Parliament travelling as a member of a party will quickly flag itself on the Qantas system, it's not rocket science for Qantas to identify that themselves. No doubt Qantas will afford additional upgrades to those folk on-top of what you or I would ever get. Thats a perk, much like getting free parking at work, some get it, some don't. It doesn't mean corruption is at hand or that any cost was incurred by the tax payer.

[@antonio325i]

Why would the PM travel economy on what he earns per year,. He know exactly how to rort the system.

[@BlairPike]

OUT!!!!!

[@tallus-h5q]

Seems odd the flights booked for overseas holidays were economy, surely they would have been booked minimum business class if you were the PM.

[@lornatodd4750]

It wash all a cunning pwlot.

[@TheSilmarillian]

@@lornatodd4750 I tink I saw a puddy tat.

[@PaulAnthony-o8h]

Booked economy as he knew he could get the upgrade why waste his own tax payer money right

[@jimmycook872]

Albo sat on the wall Albo had a great fall And all of the public Servants and labor party couldn't put Albo back together again. LOL LOOOSER 😅😂😂😂😂😂

[@miketsykin5644]

I have to disagree with Cameron Milner when he says that NAC was set up by Albanese and Dreyfus to investigate issues like Albanese’s upgrades. NAC was set up to investigate Coalition politicians, not Labor.

[@navajojohn9448]

That Joyce guy reminds of actor Rick Morranis characters and some cartoon characters like Deputy Dawg and Droopy Dog,

[@markclaxton1859]

Has Albotross done anything good for Aus ?

[@peterbarnhoorn7879]

Aaah Albo...tick tock the clock is ticking...😂😂

[@angiedevereaux1468]

Both mother and child lived on taxpayers money , and still sponging of hard working Australians money. He is nothing but a free loader with a sence of entitlement attitude.😡

[@StretchAus]

are we forgetting he also kicked out the resident of one of his other houses to put it up for sale then pulled it from auction.... now its empty aswell

[@elizabethkennedy9626]

The only thing he has done is fly fly fly he has clocked up more kilometres than any other politician world tour on our tax dollar,

[@malcolmgray.5913]

Nice plane you have there, sure would be a shame if it got extra regulations🤣

[@ozzinedyoutubechannel1851]

if Albo didnt make the calls using a third party dosent remove him excuse....the people doing the third party role must be sacked also

[@warrenklein7817]

It's a bit tough on third-party staff. If the staff tell the truth, there shouldn't be any sanction.

[@gregcooks-qr9wk]

Well ASIC NCCC has conflict off interest. It’s a total joke.

[@jamesgalloway5807]

Commonwealth Travel Policy requires “Best Fare of the Day” Quote: “When undertaking official domestic air travel, officials must select the Lowest Practical Fare (LPF), which is the lowest fare available at the time the travel is booked on a regular service (not a charter flight), that suits the practical business needs of the traveller. So Albanese should also declare how many Government (taxpayer) flights he took over his career on carriers other than Qantas

[@helsbels2582]

Albo, you’re fired!!!!!!

[@bluerose5170]

A huge ""conflict of interest"" every dog has its day !

[@AndrewCarthy]

Chalmers can’t even look the press in the eyes, which indicates that he is lying and covering for the houseo.

[@amandalee8803]

Free upgrades for family on private holidays How are politicians just entitled too this what about every other Australia . Can we get this too Qantas

[@harrywongitbeso]

Airbus Albo : I don't have to " REQUEST " upgrades from my BFF AJ because he depends on my largesse . How do you think my son got his Captain's Lounge membership . Anyway , I must accumulate maximum benefits while I'm still head honcho 😂😂😂

[@weekendwithbevoblog2171]

Albo is about as credible as Dan Andrews explaining how a teenager crashed his bike into a car driven by an Andrews.

[@Iamwoman68]

WTF does Gina got do w YOUR MISCONDUCT PM? HOW MUCH MORE BEFORE YOU TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY? MUST BE INVESTIGATED

[@Jim-i4j]

Sleazy Albanese 🤣🤣🤣🙏🙏 wow onya Albo 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tipofthespear7182]

Says a lot when both these guests are ex Labor ministers or handlers and they think Albo is a clown and done for.

[@pookeyhutchison7838]

Bye Albo The Weak

[@The-barefoot-poet]

At the very least he should be paying the difference back, but he will if he is forced too, and he will need to be forced , that is a test of his lack of character

[@JohnHogg-m9f]

Dumb and Sleezy do the dignified thing and QUIT.

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Reminiscences of Gough Whitlam, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, hmm? It's time to go greedy boy, the party is over and the photo calls will have to cease! Look out for the crocodile tears and calling his mum! 😣

[@NicolaeDupta]

Arest Alan And You Vill Find The Tru !!

[@SueNicholls-95]

LOL Albo's in hiding so he's got his lackies trying to cover for him! There's no way a staff member would try to wheedle an upgrade for Albosleazy WITHOUT his knowledge, it would be at Alboneidle's request!

[@jenniferharrison8915]

They are all now guilty by association, a real man would stand up and face it! I felt I was entitled to an upgrade, would be the correct answer! Me, me! 🤓

[@Ofoghtaze]

That's why people call him Albo Airbus

[@Shayne-l5l]

Bull crap how you sit and lie and cover for the idiot Albo is disgusting and you who defend him are just as appalling

[@stephenpercy4643]

He's not hiding for nothing...because he's on a hiding to nothing -- and he's squeezing out excuse notes...probably seized from his dog, Toto's, stolen homework

[@Jim-i4j]

Upgrade downgrade Albo 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@whiteshark0000]

Labor have launched target drones to draw hostile flack whilst airbus Albo remains in his basement safe and secure.

[@davidkelly5343]

beware the ides of november

[@richardbrown9603]

I love Grimm Jim's answer he has no clue , broke their own rules

[@aussieandy67]

Old Allan should be paying that fine

[@jenzag7621]

His mother did tell him to "Reach for the stars"! 😂

[@mandiigraham1596]

His admission is in the word “directly”.

[@jazzysnaps]

Where is Elmer ?

[@w2class]

Even if he hadn't asked, he should never have accepted kiickbacks that were a clear conflict of interest. I don't care what the technicalities are.

[@SA-nv5tc]

He may not have rung the CEO of Qantas. He may have rung somebody else. Be very careful about the question you ask Mr Dutton!

[@HoonYeongOng]

Do as I say not do as I do

[@AndrewCarthy]

I don’t think so, this is Albo you are talking about.

[@rodsloane706]

Peter. Not just Joyce but and/or any other employee if Qantas.

[@coconuciferanuts339]

Sky news needs to "pick the phone up" & ask A.Joyce & his staff at the time.About any up-grades requested from the lab.gov.

[@tsailor100]

This is storm in tea cup. I would expect PM of this country to fly 1st class, no upgrades needed.

[@beasrj]

Don’t think mum would be very proud of the doozy