Anthony Albanese has hit out at former Australian Financial Review journalist Joe Aston, who claimed in a book that the Prime Minister had a direct line to former Qantas boss Alan Joyce for flight upgrades.

In impassioned comments about the controversy on Tuesday, Mr Albanese said he had “not seen the statements” that Aston was “a former Liberal Party employee of some senior members of the Liberal Party, including Joe Hockey and Bruce Baird”.

“I don’t see any representation that he is a former Qantas employee,” he said.

“I don’t see any mention of him being a guest at a Liberal Party fundraiser in the Wentworth constituency a few months ago in June.”

Mr Albanese also said Liberal frontbencher Paul Fletcher was “far from being the most frequent person” to receive a seat boost, claiming he had “at least 69 times the figure he announced – 69”.

“He has been in parliament for less time than I have,” he said.

Aston wrote in his book The President’s Lounge that Mr Albanese personally requested and obtained 22 free upgrades from Mr Joyce when he was transport minister.

The Prime Minister refused to say whether he had called Mr Joyce about flight upgrades, insisting he had followed declaration rules to the letter.

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