Anthony Albanese finally gives a direct answer on whether he was given free Qantas flight upgrades by calling his mate Alan Joyce

Anthony Albanese has broken his silence after days of investigation into his relationship with Qantas and its former CEO Alan Joyce and whether he called him for flight benefits.

“The Prime Minister never called Alan Joyce for an upgrade,” a spokesman said.

‘All journeys are appropriately signposted and are public.’

While Mr Albanese has previously dodged questions about whether he called Mr Joyce to secure the flights, his office is believed to have searched records dating back to when he was first elected to parliament in 1996.

Messages have appeared in a new book. Mr Albanese received 22 economic upgrades from Qantas and was said to be personally contacting the airline’s former boss for them.

In recent days the prime minister has been branded “incoherent” by the opposition and urged to refer himself to a corruption watchdog after launching an inflammatory spray over flight upgrades.

He in turn accused opposition leader Peter Dutton of being “obsessed” with attacking him and his family, in a heated back-and-forth between party leaders.

Mr Albanese said all flights were listed in accordance with the rules for federal MPs.

‘I have been completely transparent about this. All my flights are appropriately marked,” he told reporters in Newcastle on Tuesday.

‘You have to make sure you follow the rules. I’ve always done that.’

Mr Albanese said 10 of the 22 flights were made during a leadership contest for the Labor Party in 2013.

The Prime Minister also went on the attack, saying coalition MPs had received more upgrades from Qantas for flights, while accusing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of fabricating the criticism.

“Peter Dutton seems to be obsessed with attacking myself and my family, and trying to participate in this,” he said.

“Peter Dutton seems determined to be arrogant and mean every day. That’s up to him, but I’ll keep doing my job.’

Albanese challenged the opposition leader to explain flights Dutton received from mining billionaire Gina Rinehart.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said voters have a right to be “furious” about the travel improvements, and called for Mr Joyce to be called before a Senate inquiry.

The Prime Minister has rambled for days without immediately providing a clear answer to the claims

Former AFL star Adam Goodes, Mr Albanese and Mr Joyce at a Qantas event in 2023

“I don’t know of any other Transport Minister who had a hotline to the CEO of Qantas to request freebies for family holidays. That’s what we’re dealing with here,” she told Nine’s Today programme.

“It’s a serious job as Transport Minister, and people saw that it was about freebies.”

Employment Minister Murray Watt said the Prime Minister had complied with all the rules for parliamentarians.

“If anyone looks at Anthony Albanese’s record, he has done Qantas no favors. He has consistently taken on Qantas on a range of issues,” he told AAP.

“The suggestion that his relationship with Qantas or the former CEO influenced his decision-making is completely at odds with the actions he took.”

Independent Senator David Pocock said the revelations about travel arrangements highlighted the need for change in political rights.

“There are very legitimate questions that need to be answered. There is a terrible, terrible look,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“But I think this needs to be part of the broader conversation about how shocking and effectively useless our lobbying laws are in this country.”