Requesting/soliciting a flight upgrade as a minister is very different than an MP asking your rich mate to use their jet or chopper. The former is a breach of the MCC. So it’s a bit more nuanced than - oh he got to use his rich mates shiny jet. (BTW Albo used Lindsay Fox’s private chopper).
The first question is - did Albo or any of his people seek a gift via an upgrade from QANTAS (anyone at QANTAS not just Joyce). Seeking a gift as a minister is a breach of clause 3.18 of the MCC.
The second question is - did Albo have a conflict of interest (real or perceived) when he sought or accepted free flight upgrades from QANTAS whilst he was Transport minister; bearing in mind Albo as Transport Minister was in charge of regulating QANTAS.
If Dutts did declare his gift, he’s not breached any parliamentary rules.
Samantha Maiden is running hard with this story and speculation she has more to publish (including QANTAS whistleblowers). I’m sure she will time her “drops” to coincide with parliament sitting week next week
What parliamentary rules has Dutton breached- for there to be a case to answer if he declares his gift? If he didn’t I agree with you.
Furthermore, Dutton isn’t a Minister and is not in government so seeking a gift from a friend/constituent has different implications than seeking gifts as a minister. Remember when Shorten accepted gifts and hospitality from the Pratts including sipping Crystal down at Raheen? It may have even invoked flights on the Pratt’s jets. Yes he got attacked in QT by MT but there was no case to answer because presumably he declared it all.
If he had nothing to worry about, why did he lie? I would suggest there is a pretty large conflict of interest in hitting up someone like Gina for an expensive favour. I think Albo is in trouble with this too, also worth noting that McKenzie has had to go back and check that she may not have declared her own upgrades. This was unnecessary point scoring that could cost both sides very heavily.
Interestingly enough there has been some chatter at work and Qantas are potentially looking at scaling down or even removing CL access for anyone and go to a status level lounge
Dutton didn’t lie he declared it I believe. Nobody has said he lied about taking a flight on Gina 1 - when asked he admitted what was on his parliamentary declaration. That’s my understanding- he declared his freebies
That’d be what should happen out of all of this, stop the freebie CL memberships. Get the pollies to earn lounge access the way us mere mortals have to. It took me a lot of flights and hard work to get to Platinum and Platinum One
Who honestly cares what pollies spend on property. If they can afford it good luck to them.
I’m far away from that part of town and outside of what I’d be prepared to spend but good luck to her
The LNP gunning for the Teal Independents because their campaigns were largely financed by Holmes a Court’s Climate 2000.
While David Pocock is reflecting what we all want to have in regard to governance, transparency in donations, the valuation of gifts and access to politicians diaries , of whom they meet with. On the latter, he wants removal of lobbyists unrestricted passes to PH, make them sign in by the politicians they are meeting. He suggests that every time the cross bench proposes improvements, the major Parties in Government and Opposition combine to kill it.
( Many’s the time I was jostled by lobbyists in the non public areas of PH when going about my PS work).
And maybe a public record of contact between journos and pollies.
Any suggestion that there should be a lower standard for those in Opposition doesn’t hold water. They vote and have influence in policies, they are no less vulnerable to being bought. Additionally, Shadow Ministers, in gradations from outer Ministries through to Cabinet, their shadow portfolios, staff numbers, offices, up to the leader of the Opposition. They are no less vulnerable to being bought than members of Government.
While journos selectively report on crossbencher changes of support and votes on Bills by Senators, clickbait on their non-normative behaviour and dress.
Mrs Fox has a Qld Cousin who is a career policeman, and he has a massive property portfolio with blocks of apartments worth many millions around Brisbane, all on the salary of a Qld Cop. Some in the family think he is corrupt, maybe just lucky and a shrewd investor !!
how funny is it that the chief head kicker on all this albo absolute ,nonsense was Bridget "sports rorts"McKenzie
so funny how someone has absolutely zero self awareness,
that she can talk about impropriety without even batting an eylid
if we have to start cross checking every politician who has taken an upgrade , a free feed or whatever there isn’t enough hours in a year . it’s absolutely laughable that the Lnp wanted to make this a big deal . didn’t even last 3 days before they all started running for cover. this will last till about Wednesday or Thursday next week before they all call it a draw and move on to the next gotcha
