November 3rd 2024.
In a recent admission, Education Minister Jason Clare has acknowledged that he requested a free upgrade on a flight from Qantas for a personal trip from Sydney to Singapore. This request was made in 2019, shortly after Clare had left the hospital following surgery to remove a melanoma on his leg. The trip was properly declared on his official register of interests, but Clare has stated that he cannot recall the exact details of who he spoke to about the upgrade.
During an interview with Sky News, Clare explained, "I do remember picking up the phone and asking for a bit of assistance, but I can't quite remember all of the specifics." This revelation comes at a time when fellow politician Anthony Albanese is also facing scrutiny for allegedly receiving Qantas upgrades during his time as transport minister. According to a book by Joe Aston, titled The Chairman's Lounge, it is claimed that the Prime Minister declared 22 free upgrades, some of which were directly obtained from former chief executive Alan Joyce.
However, Albanese has vehemently denied these allegations, stating that he never sought an upgrade from Joyce or anyone else at Qantas. In light of these developments, Clare has come to the defense of the PM, emphasizing that he has taken the necessary steps to ensure that all of his actions are in accordance with the rules and regulations. "He has gone above and beyond to diligently comb through his registered interests spanning over a decade," Clare stated.
He went on to say, "In situations like these, you have two choices - you can either make things up or you can take the time to fact-check. And that's exactly what Anthony has done." Meanwhile, the public has been kept on their toes with news of an investigation into a man's death in Victoria's north, as well as footage of Donald Trump's peculiar behavior with a microphone during a recent rally. To stay up to date with all the latest news, sports, politics, and weather, make sure to download the 9News app. It's available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, and you can even receive notifications straight to your smartphone. Don't miss a beat - download it now.
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