Joe Aston got the kind of book launch every first time author dreams of <br>
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- massive amounts of free publicity online, in newspapers and on TV and radio. <br>
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And it was all thanks to Anthony Albanese's ill-informed attack <br>
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on Aston over what was written in his book, The Chairman's <br>
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Lounge - The Inside Story of how Qantas sold us out.<br>
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Despite the resultant terrible publicity - which has led <br>
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to him being called 'upgrade Albo' - and calls for an inquiry, Aston told Daily Mail Australia his book is 'not a hit job on Anthony Albanese'.<br>
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Aston insisted he's 'not trying to get a scalp', <br>
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but reiterated that the Prime Minister 'had a direct line to Alan Joyce'.<br>
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The book claims Mr Albanese got 22 upgrades from economy on Qantas flights by <br>
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personally requesting them from the airline's then CEO Mr Joyce - which the <br>
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Prime Minister has categorically denied.<br>
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According to unnamed Qantas 'insiders', 11 of the 22 flights Mr Albanese <br>
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got upgrades for were 'privately funded' and included overseas trips to Rome, <br>
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London, Los Angeles and Honolulu. <br>
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But instead of addressing the claim, Mr Albanese chose to shoot the messenger and, in turn, shot himself in the foot. <br>
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He said Aston was using the accusations to sell books and said he was hiding his employment history. <br>
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'I don't see declarations that he's a former Liberal Party staffer… I don't see declarations he's a former <br>
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Qantas employee,' the Prime Minister said. <br>
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But before the book even gets to the contents page there is a photo of Aston that refers to him as the <br>
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then-Qantas corporate communications senior adviser. <br>
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Joe Aston (pictured) got the kind of book launch every first time author dreams of - massive amounts of free publicity online, in newspapers and on TV and radio<br>
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Anthony Albanese (right) is pictured with his fiance Jodie Haydon (left) and then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce on March 31, 2023 in Sydney, Australia<br>
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And the first chapter of the book reveals that he worked for then-Liberal MP Bruce Baird, who <br>
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held the southern Sydney seat of Cook before Scott Morrison. <br>
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'My professional history is not a secret or not disclosed, it's in the first line of the first page of the book,' Aston said on Tuesday night, just before his book <br>
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launch. <br>
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Though he was grateful for the free publicity Mr Albanese's response gave the book, <br>
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Aston was still 'staggered' at the untrue claims about him the Prime Minister made. <br>
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'He's under enormous pressure and I know, I've seen this many times with public figures and leaders who struggle to see their own part in it, the terrible circumstances that they create,' he said.<br>
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Read More<br>
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Extravagant Qantas perk Anthony Albanese FAILED to <br>
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declare is revealed... after two days of denials<br>
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Asked if Mr Albanese had been poorly advised in his attack, Aston, who is <br>
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a former Australian Financial Review columnist, wonders <br>
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if the Prime Minister 'even listens to advice at this point'.<br>
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'All he's doing is talking around the issue and he's <br>
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blaming me and he's blaming other MP's for also taking upgrades (on Qantas flights).<br>
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'He's avoiding the only thing that he can't talk about, <br>
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which is, did you ask Qantas for confirmed upgrades on your private <br>
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holidays when you were the Transport Minister?<br>
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The answer is "yes" and he's desperately trying to avoid <br>
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saying it.'<br>
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Smelling blood, Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the Prime Minister should refer himself to the anti-corruption commission over the flight upgrades.<br>
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Coming on top of Mr Albanese's tone deaf purchase of a $4.3million clifftop mansion while so many <br>
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people are struggling to pay their mortgage or rent, the latest blow to his credibility <br>
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has led to calls for him to resign.<br>
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Aston refuses to be drawn on this, though. <br>
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'I never expected this (part of the book) to <br>
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even this part to get this far. I really am shocked at how <br>
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it's blown up.<br>
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pictured with the then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce<br>
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Anthony Albanese is pictured on August 14, 2023 as Qantas unveiled its Yes23 <br>
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livery in support of a Yes vote in the Indigenous <br>
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Voice to Parliament referendum <br>
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Among the movers and shakers at Joe Aston's book launch in the ritzy Hemmesphere club in Sydney was Tabcorp director David Gallop (pictured)<br>
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Paul Barry (pictured in blue shirt), the host of the ABC's Media Watch show,<br>
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was also at the launch<br>
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'So to the extent that it has, I would say ... anyone who reads <br>
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the book will learn that this book is not a hit job on Anthony <br>
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Albanese. This book is about Qantas. <br>
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'Anthony Albanese is an example of how Qantas influences politicians on both sides of <br>
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the aisle, Labor, Liberal, National, you name it. They've been doing it for more than a generation.<br>
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'They're the best influence peddler in Australia. I'm not here trying to get a scalp.<br>
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That's not what this book is about and it never <br>
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was.'<br>
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But the conversation Daily Mail Australia had with <br>
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Aston mirrors the conversations being had across Australia and eventually winds up back on Mr Albanese. <br>
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'Even I've underestimated how fed up the public is with the freebie <br>
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mindset of politicians,' he said.<br>
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Guests at Joe Aston's book launch on Tuesday night are pictured pointing for emphasis <br>
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or to someone they recognise<br>
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There was no shortage of free alcohol (pictured) available at the launch of Joe Aston's book <br>
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Joe Aston is pictured in the exclusive Hemmesphere club in Sydney, where his <br>
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book The Chairman's Lounge was launched<br>
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'And unfortunately for Albanese, he's been in politics a <br>
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long time and that kind of behaviour is quite normalised to him, is what I've <br>
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seen. <br>
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'I mean, he loves the free concert tickets and sitting <br>
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at the front row of the Australian Open Tennis. <br>
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'I went to the Australian Open Tennis as a journalist almost every <br>
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year for 12 years and he was the only Prime Minister (I saw there).<br>
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'Those tickets are worth thousands of dollars to sit in the <br>
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front row of the International Grand Slam. He's the first Prime Minister who I've ever seen do that.<br>
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'That to me is a sign that he doesn't quite get what it looks <br>
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like to others when he's on the gravy train. And I think (the claims in the book are) just another example of that.'<br>
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In Australian politics it's regular practise <br>
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for an MP's travel to be booked in economy, then someone in their office phones the airline and asks if their flight can be <br>
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upgraded. <br>
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The difference with the Prime Minister is that 'he had <br>
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a very direct line to Alan Joyce,' Aston said.<br>
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'The other thing is there's a difference between an upgrade where it's in the <br>
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booking and if the seat's empty when the flight closes, you'll <br>
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get upgraded.<br>
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'This is different. This is a confirmed upgrade where the ticket is <br>
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converted and you are guaranteed. You're not going to the airport <br>
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crossing your fingers going "Geez, I hope there is a spare seat".<br>
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'You're guaranteed. You turn up knowing you're getting a <br>
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seat and the only person at Qantas who can issue those types of upgrades is the <br>
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CEO. No other executive can do that.<br>
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'So it is beyond question that Alan joints authorised these upgrades (for Anthony Albanese).'<br>
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Aston enjoyed many upgrades to the pointy end of planes during his time <br>
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as a travel journalist, and understands the <br>
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attraction for politicians to get up there. <br>
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'These things are tempting and it's human nature too.<br>
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Once you've experienced the front of the plane, it's very hard to <br>
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go back.<br>
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'For politicians, they run around with all these staff and <br>
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they've got chauffeured cars and they fly in business, but they <br>
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don't get paid like CEOs ...<br>
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'They're not in a situation where they can afford to go flying around in the front of the plane on personal travel. <br>
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'A normal person would say "Therefore I won't (fly business class). But (for politicians) it's a culture of entitlement.'<br>
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Aston is careful to point out that most people would say politicians are 'very well paid compared to the average worker'.<br>
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But that doesn't stop some MPs from desperately seeking a free ride, whether it's a flight upgrade, concert tickets or the executive box at sporting events. <br>
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Late on Wednesday night, a spokeswoman Mr Albanese said 'The Prime Minister did not ever call Alan Joyce seeking an upgrade'.<br>
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'All travel has been appropriately declared and is a matter of public record.'<br>
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Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas for comment. <br>
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The Chairman's Lounge - The Inside Story of how Qantas sold us out, by Joe Aston, is available now in bookshops and from online retailers<br>
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WHAT IS THE QANTAS CHAIRMAN'S LOUNGE?<br>
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The Qantas Chairman's Lounge is an invitation-only club approved by the company chairman, with the guest list a closely-guarded secret.<br>
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It has been dubbed 'the most exclusive club in the country' and comes with a distinct black card.<br>
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Members include senior-ranking MPs such as ministers, state premiers and the Prime Minister, leaders of major unions and sporting groups, Qantas ambassadors, selected A-list celebrities, major corporate figures and high-profile media personalities.<br>
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The clubs can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide airports but are not signposted - you have to know where to look.<br>
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Inside you will find expensive wood and brass furnishings, wool carpet and marble flooring, all bathed in natural light. <br>
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Members enjoy fine à la carte dining with a complimentary premium array of beers, spirits and Australian wines. Wine bottles are often given as departing gifts.<br>
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Facilities may also include spas, showers and an assortment of books and magazines.<br>
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Members may bring in two guests at a time. <br>
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Lounge attendants personally alert you when your flight is ready to board, and your personal preferences are logged for each flight. <br>
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Membership also entitles you to first-class facilities at Qantas partner airlines.<br>
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Source: Executive Traveller<br>
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Anthony Albanese<br>
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Joe Aston got the kind of