Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing questions after it emerged he attended a fundraiser on the same day his cabinet ministers criticised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for doing so as Cyclone Alfred approached Brisbane.
On March 4, Labor ministers slammed Dutton for leaving his Brisbane electorate to attend a fundraiser at billionaire Justin Hemmes' Sydney mansion. Employment Minister Murray Watt accused Dutton of prioritising 'money bags' over 'sandbags'. Albanese initially deflected, saying it was 'a matter for him' to explain.
However, Albanese admitted on Friday that he also attended a fundraiser that day before flying to Queensland at 8.30pm. He told Nova: 'On that day, Peter Dutton flew out of Queensland and I flew in.' He insisted he then met Premier Crisafulli and attended a disaster coordination meeting.
Questions are now being asked whether Albanese forced emergency staff to wait late for a briefing. Details of his fundraiser remain unclear. Dutton's office said his lunch meeting was with church representatives, not a fundraiser, though a potential donation had been discussed separately.
