The senior opposition senator leading the charge over Anthony Albanese’s alleged links to Qantas is now facing serious questions about her own travel habits.
Bridget McKenzie has reportedly failed to disclose more than a dozen free flight upgrades since she was put on her register of interests in Parliament.
Last week the coalition frontbencher wrote to Qantas, Virgin and Regional Express Airlines (Rex) to check whether the airlines had given her special treatment, amid furor over claims the Prime Minister had asked for seat bumps from ex-Qantas boss Alan Joyce.
Qantas and Virgin have responded to Senator McKenzie’s confirmation that she has received more than a dozen upgrades, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported, citing sources.
If confirmed, the Coalition frontbencher could face stiff penalties for serious breaches of disclosure rules.
Meanwhile, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor dodged questions as he spoke to reporters in Canberra on Wednesday morning.
“I don’t know if all that has been verified,” he said, adding that Mr Albanese’s alleged Qantas benefits were the “real problem”.
Last week, Ms McKenzie became caught up in the public anger over Qantas’ upgrades by first denying she had benefited from them, then later admitting she had.
Anthony Albanese has denied claims he personally called former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for flight upgrades (the pair are pictured in August 2023)
She said a review of travel rules by the Ministry of Finance was not necessary.
“They just need to ensure that the government travel provider offers civil servants the lowest practical fare the first time, rather than offering Qantas as standard,” Senator McKenzie said.
Ms McKenzie told the ABC on Friday that “it was wrong of me to be so emphatic” in her initial claim that she had never received a Qantas upgrade.
“I probably don’t believe that I should subject other people to standards that I don’t want to subject myself to.”
Claims in a new book that Mr Albanese personally asked the former Qantas chief executive for 22 flight upgrades, including 11 for personal travel, have outraged Australians.
The Prime Minister has denied making any such requests and said any benefits he has received from Qantas have been appropriately declared.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Senator McKenzie for comment.