Aussie PM Denies Directly Asking Ex-Qantas CEO for Upgrades.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denies personally contacting former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for flight upgrades, amidst a scandal over free perks from the national carrier. Albanese refuted claims made in a book that he sought perks directly from Joyce, stating that all upgrades were declared. The scandal has sparked a re-examination of the free perks provided to politicians by Qantas, including access to the exclusive Chairman's Lounge. Albanese's government is facing challenges in addressing a national cost-of-living crisis, as reflected in recent polling data. [Extracted from the article]