How many politicians would meet the pub test for a flight upgrade?

If voters were to look at the list of perks that Australian Members of Parliament (MPs) have received for their position in the most powerful building in the country, it begs the question of how many would pass the "pub test". This test, which measures the acceptability of a person's actions in the eyes of the public, is currently being applied to Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese's relationship with Qantas and its former CEO Alan Joyce. The focus is on the free flight upgrades he has received, which has put him under scrutiny.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has noted that Albanese has not tried to conceal these upgrades. In fact, he has openly acknowledged them. However, it was journalist Joe Aston and his new book on the national carrier that brought this issue to light. But Morrison is not the only politician who has benefited from Qantas' generosity or received freebies. According to parliamentary rules, MPs are required to disclose various interests, including any gifts worth more than $750, sponsored hospitality and travel, and any other interests that may pose a conflict of interest with their public duties.

These registers are regularly updated and publicly available for anyone to read. Some disclosures are minor, such as Nationals leader David Littleproud receiving a Christmas ham from Australian Pork Limited every year, or Labor MP Julian Hill being gifted a statue of himself by a constituent. However, there are also more significant disclosures, such as nearly every MP being a member of the exclusive Qantas Chairman's Lounge and receiving flight upgrades. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus even disclosed a first-class upgrade from Los Angeles, while Greens leader Adam Bandt occasionally gets upgraded to business class on Virgin and Qantas flights.

Even Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has declared receiving upgrades from Qantas and having several flights paid for by Hancock Prospecting, a company owned by Australia's wealthiest person, Gina Rinehart. And they are not the only ones. According to Aston, Albanese should be scrutinized for the upgrades he received while he was transport minister, as he was responsible for regulating the aviation industry, including Qantas. Aston also mentions the issue of parliamentary culture, where gifts are readily accepted without considering whether they would pass the "pub test".

Aston believes that the public is fed up with politicians accepting freebies, as seen in the UK where Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced backlash for accepting tickets to concerts and sporting events. If Albanese were to repay all the free tickets he has taken as a politician, he would have to file for personal bankruptcy. However, he is not the only one guilty of this, as it is a common occurrence among politicians. Aston believes that it is time for politicians to realize that the Australian public has had enough.

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