Daniel Andrews has scoffed at criticism of a barbecue he attended with Anthony Albanese at the mansion of the billionaire transport magnate Lindsay Fox, joking that journalists should seek “an interview from the gas bottle”.
But the federal Coalition is demanding answers about the prime minister’s meeting with Fox, alleging he was “prioritising billionaires over flood victims” by not travelling to the Kimberley until two days after visiting Fox in Portsea, Victoria.
The deputy Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, said Albanese needed to explain why “this billionaire’s barbecue was a better use of his afternoon than focusing his full attention on the worst flooding in WA’s history”.
The Nine newspapers reported on Thursday that Albanese had joined the Victorian premier at Fox’s seaside mansion on Saturday. While Andrews arrived by car, Albanese reportedly travelled on a 10-minute flight in the Fox family’s helicopter from Geelong, where he had held a press conference with his deputy, Richard Marles.
Great to catch up with my friend @DanielAndrewsMP in Melbourne today after my visit to Geelong with @RichardMarlesMP #victoria pic.twitter.com/of0e7m8fzM
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 7, 2023
Asked what had been discussed at the event by reporters in Mackay on Wednesday, Albanese said: “I have private meetings all the time. And I have private meetings which are private meetings.”
Albanese travelled to WA’s Kimberley region on Monday, visiting Broome and Fitzroy Crossing, which have been devastated by flooding following ex-tropical cyclone Ellie.
Ley said Albanese should have travelled to the flood region sooner.
“This crisis has not crept up on the government. This was a deliberate decision the prime minister made – prioritising billionaires over flood victims,” she said.
Ley also raised concerns about the “ethics” of accepting the helicopter ride, and claimed Albanese had been “disingenuous” in declining to detail the meeting when asked directly at his press conference.
“The prime minister needs to be upfront with the Australian people and explain what was discussed over what appears to be several hours,” she said. “There are legitimate questions that need to be answered and whenever he is asked he sidesteps and hides.”
Ley resigned as health minister in 2017 in the wake of an investigation into her travel expenses. She came under scrutiny for buying a $795,000 Gold Coast property during a trip to Queensland while travelling on ministerial business in May 2015. Ley claimed that purchase had not been planned, but later apologised for an “error of judgment”, agreeing to repay expenses related to the trip and several others.
Ley maintained she had broken no rules, but the then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull opened investigations into her travel claims. Ley later stood aside as health minister, then quit, before returning to the ministry in 2018 under Scott Morrison.
Albanese’s office has been approached for comment.
At a press conference on Thursday, Andrews declined to reveal what was discussed at the meeting.
“Lots of things get discussed at barbecues,” he said.
Andrews denied the trio discussed the Fox family’s ambitions for its privately owned Avalon airport or its business interests.
“No. It was a barbecue. It was a social event, and I will boldly predict that it won’t be the only barbecue I go to this summer,” he said.
“[If] you’re trying to insinuate that there was anything inappropriate that’s simply wrong.”
Andrews has been criticised by the Liberal opposition over his close relationship with the influential family. In early 2021, Fox’s logistics group Linfox tendered to build a 500-bed quarantine facility at Avalon airport for Covid-19 quarantine. It was reported that Andrews and his wife, Catherine, visited the family’s compound at the time.
Linfox’s bid was ultimately unsuccessful, with a $580m facility built at Mickleham, in Melbourne’s north.
Andrews also denied he had accepted helicopter flights from the Fox family.
“The only helicopter flights I have been on have been when, in my capacity as the premier of this state ... it was during bushfires. To the best of my knowledge they are the only helicopters I have ever been on,” he told parliament in March 2021.
Albanese’s helicopter ride may need to be declared on the federal parliament’s register of members’ interests, which requires the disclosure of “sponsored travel or hospitality” over $300 in value. Members have 28 days to update their register. Albanese’s last update was on 19 December.
Andrews sought to shrug off questions about the barbecue by referring to his earlier criticism of media reporting about the fall at a Sorrento holiday home that led to his serious back injury in 2021.
“There’s a whole lot of people out there looking to get an interview with the steps from the beach house and now they can look for an interview from the gas bottle as well,” he said. “Like seriously.”
