How Australia’s ‘First Dog’ Toto has been joining Anthony Albanese on his VIP flights – as the pooch’s jet-setting lifestyle comes under the spotlight
The travel habits of Anthony Albanese’s beloved dog Toto have come under scrutiny as it has been revealed she is believed to have traveled on VIP flights with the Prime Minister.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie questioned Air Force chief Robert Chipman during an intense Senate hearing on Toto’s travels on Wednesday.
“Can you provide a list of all flights since May 21, 2022 on which animals – and in particular an animal called Toto – have been allowed on board special purpose aircraft?” she asked.
Mr Chipman confirmed that a pet was known to be traveling on the special aircraft used mainly by the Prime Minister for official duties.
“I am aware that there is a history of VIPs traveling with pets on VIP aircraft,” he said.
“(But) we do not keep comprehensive records of when animals travel on VIP aircraft.”
Mr Albanese is pictured with Toto after casting his vote in the federal election
The Australian First Dog Toto (photo) would travel with the Prime Minister in the special plane
Pets on VIP flights are not required to wear muzzles but must be secured in some type of harness, the air marshal said.
All animals remain the responsibility of the passenger, not the crew or pilot on board.
Senator McKenzie – who recently led an investigation into the decision to block more Qatar Airways flights to Australia – tried to find out exactly how many times Toto had been a guest on the plane.
‘Are there any animals listed on the flight manifest?’ she asked.
Mr Chipman said it was not standard practice to do this, but there have been cases where the presence of an animal has been ‘annotated’ on a special aircraft, and so added to the formal manifest later.
“I don’t have data on how often (it happens),” he said.
“I know we have records that show this occurred.”
The government is facing criticism for its refusal to release certain details about special purpose flights, citing safety concerns for those on board.
But Ms McKenzie argued there would “certainly” not be such a concern about disclosing the identities of pets on board.
Mr Chipman confirmed that a pet was known to travel on the special aircraft used mainly by the Prime Minister for official duties
Toto is often pictured with the Prime Minister and became a celebrity in his own right during the intense campaign period leading up to the 2022 elections
“The advice from the safety coordination committee is not specifically about naming animals on the plane,” Mr Chipman admitted.
But because of the haphazard way in which pet trips are recorded, Mr Chipman could not answer a direct question about how many flights Toto in particular has taken since Mr Albanese became prime minister in May 2022.
Toto is often pictured with the Prime Minister and became a celebrity in his own right during the intense campaign period leading up to the 2022 elections.
The pooch divides her time between her owner’s homes at Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra when Parliament is in session.
“Toto has a special brand of dog food, it is the only thing she eats – yes, she is a princess,” the Prime Minister told radio station Nova earlier this year.
The pooch divides her time between her owner’s homes at Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra when Parliament is in session