Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is defending claims he received free Qantas upgrades and obtained a prized Chairman’s Lounge membership for his son while he was transport minister.

Mr Albansese says he declared the upgrades on international flights, but some believe this isn’t enough.

At the centre of these claims is the author of “The Chairman’s Lounge – The inside story of how Qantas sold us out” Joe Aston who told The Gary Adshead Show Qantas “developed Anthony Albanese as a… close friend of the company.”

“What these upgrades demonstrate is just the incredible influence Qantas has over politicians in Australia,” said Mr Aston.

“They were… making people just magically go to the pointy end without paying for it. ”

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