Joe Aston got the kind of book launch every <br>
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first time author dreams of - 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 on Aston over what was written in his book, <br>
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The Chairman's Lounge - The Inside Story of how Qantas sold us out.<br>
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Despite the resultant terrible publicity - which has led to <br>
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him being called 'upgrade Albo' - and calls for an inquiry, Aston told Daily Mail Australia his book is 'not a hit <br>
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job on Anthony Albanese'.<br>
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Aston insisted he's 'not trying to get a scalp', but reiterated <br>
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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 personally requesting them from the airline's <br>
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then CEO Mr Joyce - which the Prime Minister has categorically denied.<br>
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According to unnamed Qantas 'insiders', 11 of the 22 flights Mr Albanese got upgrades for were 'privately funded' and included overseas <br>
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trips to Rome, London, Los Angeles and Honolulu. <br>
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But instead of addressing the claim, Mr Albanese chose to shoot the <br>
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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 <br>
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Party staffer… I don't see declarations he's a former 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 then-Qantas corporate communications senior adviser. <br>
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Joe Aston (pictured) got the kind of book launch every first <br>
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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) <br>
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and then Qantas CEO Alan Joyce on March 31, 2023 <br>
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in Sydney, Australia<br>
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And the first chapter of the book reveals that <br>
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he worked for then-Liberal MP Bruce Baird, <br>
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who held the southern Sydney seat of Cook before <br>
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Scott Morrison. <br>
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'My professional history is not a secret or not disclosed, it's in the first <br>
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line of the first page of the book,' Aston said on Tuesday night, just before <br>
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his book 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 <br>
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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 <br>
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figures and leaders who struggle to see their own part <br>
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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 declare is <br>
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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 a former Australian Financial Review columnist, wonders if the Prime Minister 'even listens to <br>
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advice at this point'.<br>
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'All he's doing is talking around the issue and he's blaming me and he's blaming other MP's for <br>
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also taking upgrades (on Qantas flights).<br>
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'He's avoiding the only thing that he can't talk about, which is, did <br>
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you ask Qantas for confirmed upgrades on your private holidays when you <br>
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were the Transport Minister? The answer is "yes" and <br>
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he's desperately trying to avoid saying it.'<br>
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Smelling blood, Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the Prime Minister should refer himself <br>
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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 <br>
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blow to his credibility 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 even this part to get this <br>
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far. I really am shocked at how it's blown up.<br>
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pictured with the then Qantas <br>
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CEO Alan Joyce<br>
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Anthony Albanese is pictured on August 14, 2023 as Qantas unveiled <br>
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its Yes23 livery in support of a Yes vote in the Indigenous 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, was <br>
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also at the launch<br>
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'So to the extent that it has, I would say ... anyone who reads the book will learn that this book is not <br>
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a hit job on Anthony Albanese. This book is about Qantas. <br>
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'Anthony Albanese is an example of how Qantas influences politicians on both <br>
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sides of the aisle, Labor, Liberal, National, you name it.<br>
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They've been doing it for more than a generation.<br>
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'They're the best influence peddler in Australia.<br>
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I'm not here trying to get a scalp. That's not what <br>
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this book is about and it never was.'<br>
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But the conversation Daily Mail Australia had with Aston mirrors the <br>
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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 mindset <br>
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of politicians,' he said.<br>
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Guests at Joe Aston's book launch on Tuesday night are <br>
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pictured pointing for emphasis 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 book <br>
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The Chairman's Lounge was launched<br>
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'And unfortunately for Albanese, he's been in politics a long time and <br>
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that kind of behaviour is quite normalised to him, is what I've seen. <br>
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'I mean, he loves the free concert tickets and sitting 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 <br>
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every 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 <br>
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sit in the front row of the International Grand Slam.<br>
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He's the first Prime Minister who I've ever seen do <br>
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that.<br>
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'That to me is a sign that he doesn't quite get what it looks like <br>
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to others when he's on the gravy train. And I think (the claims in the book are) just another <br>
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example of that.'<br>
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In Australian politics it's regular practise for an MP's travel to be booked in economy, then someone in their office <br>
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phones the airline and asks if their flight can be upgraded. <br>
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The difference with the Prime Minister is that 'he had a very direct line to Alan Joyce,<br>
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' Aston said.<br>
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'The other thing is there's a difference between an upgrade where it's in the booking and if <br>
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the seat's empty when the flight closes, you'll get upgraded.<br>
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'This is different. This is a confirmed upgrade <br>
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where the ticket is converted and you are <br>
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guaranteed. You're not going to the airport crossing <br>
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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 seat <br>
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and the only person at Qantas who can issue those types of upgrades is <br>
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the 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 as a travel journalist, and understands the attraction for politicians <br>
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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, <br>
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it's very hard to go back.<br>
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'For politicians, they run around with all these staff <br>
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and they've got chauffeured cars and they fly in business, but they 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 <br>
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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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