Peter Dutton defends use of Rinehart flights as PM denies Qantas perks allegations

Peter Dutton has confirmed details about flights on billionaire Gina Rinehart’s private jets, as Labor tries to shift the focus off the scandal engulfing Anthony Albanese and his relationship with Qantas.

Mr Dutton said on Thursday revelations about the flights, as well as the leaking of a photo of a catch up with journalist Joe Aston more than six months ago, were attempts by the Government to distract from the increasing pressure on the Prime Minister over his perceived travel perks.

Aston’s new book sparked claims about Mr Albanese’s relationship with former Qantas boss Alan Joyce — claiming the Prime Minister had requested 22 flight upgrades from the then airline chief, including some while transport minister.

Mr Albanese and his Labor colleagues have sought to change the narrative and call out Mr Dutton for accepting private jet flights from Ms Rinehart.

Mr Dutton confirmed he had asked for an option to fly to a Bali bombing memorial in Sydney while he was touring central Queensland for which there were no commercial flight options available.

“We asked the Government for a RAAF flight. They played games, and they didn’t offer that flight,” he said.

“At that point, I think we had a charter estimate, which was about $40,000 to fly from Rockhampton to Sydney and then back to Mackay. I thought that was very expensive.

“The cheaper option for the taxpayer was for my office to speak to Mrs Rinehart’s office as to whether the plane might be available. That was at zero cost to the taxpayer.

“I don’t think you get as clear a statement as that from the Prime Minister. But that’s that’s what happened.”

It’s understood Mr Dutton had only requested the RAAF flight less than 24 hours prior.

Mr Dutton said he accepted a flight to Roy Hill’s mining operations because he had been asked to visit the site.

“I wasn’t the Transport Minister asking the chief executive of a company for an upgrade,” he said.

Mr Dutton was also asked on Thursday about a photo being shared of him and Aston, which is believed to have been taken in Sydney in April. He said he had known the reporter for a long time.

“I’ve known obviously a lot of journalists ... and I caught up with Joe for lunch only a little while ago,” Mr Dutton said.

“I do that with editors, with journalists on a regular basis. So I don’t think there’s any surprise about Joe’s connectedness.

“The government can throw all this mud and the (Prime Minister’s Office) can background journalists and the rest of it. What’s at stake here is the Prime Minister’s integrity.”

Mr Dutton has called for the Prime Minister to refer himself to the federal corruption watchdog after the revelations about his flight upgrades, including while as transport minister.

After poring through his records over the last five days, Mr Albanese has now denied ever contacting Mr Joyce directly.

But Mr Dutton has suggested that, in exchange for the supposed perks, Mr Albanese had acted in Qantas’ best interests when he blocked Qatar Airways’ bid for more flights into Australia last year.

Mr Albanese’s office issued a statement on Wednesday confirming the PM had never called Mr Joyce for flight upgrades — which left open the question of whether he had used other means of contact.

It’s since been claimed, via text messages to a radio announcer not an official statement from his office, Mr Albanese never texted or emailed Mr Joyce, and never had in-person conversations with him regarding flight upgrades.

It’s also been confirmed Mr Albanese never directly shared any flight or travel plans with Mr Joyce, or other senior Qantas figures including senior executive Andrew Parker — amid reports he had handled Mr Albanese’s upgrades.

The PM has maintained all travel undertaken over his nearly 30 years in Parliament has been appropriately declared, and it’s understood all upgrades have been a decision ultimately made by Qantas.

The PM has not fronted media since Tuesday, but 2GB host Ben Fordham reported Mr Albanese had said he hadn’t spoken to Mr Joyce in “a very long time”.

Mr Dutton said Australians were yet to hear a “credible response” from Mr Albanese directly.

“We still don’t have a clear, or I don’t think, honest answer from the Prime Minister. It just doesn’t add up to a credible response,” he said.

Mr Dutton also said he would stand by Shadow Infrastructure Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie after she launched an investigation into her own business class upgrades.

“Bridget has been open and honest and forthright,” he said.

“She’s gone through a process, she’s issued a statement this morning which deals with it in a transparent and honest way, the complete opposite of the approach that Mr Albanese as Prime Minister has taken.”