Anthony Albanese state under pressure to explain why he allowed cabinet ministers to criticize Peter Dutton for attending a fundraising when tropical cycloon Alfred approached when he also attended one on the same day.
The opposition leader was beaten by Labor because he left his Brisbane electorate to attend a fundraising in the Mansion of Sydney Harborside of Hospitality billionaire Justin Hemmes on Tuesday 4 March.
When he was asked about Mr Dutton's priorities, the Prime Minister simply said that it was 'a case for him' to explain and tell journalists that he was focused on 'fulfilling' his own obligations.
But Minister of Employment Murray Watt said that Mr Dutton 'Queenslanders owes a statement', because the Labor -Front bencher repeatedly accused him of prioritizing 'money bags' above 'sandbags'.
Mr Dutton was grilled this week about fundraising and insisted that it was 'not a party', but a fundraising event and accused work for the use of the event as 'political leverage to push a negative campaign'.
Now it has emerged that the prime minister attended fundraising on the same day, after he had designed direct questions about it at least twice.
Albanian finally admitted on Friday that he had also attended fundraising on 4 March before he flew to Queensland at 8.30 p.m.
“On that day Peter Dutton flew from Queensland and I flew in,” Mr. Albanese told Nova.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton (photo) was beaten by Labor because he left his Brisbane electorate to attend a fundraising in Sydney Harbourisde Mansion of hospitality billionaire Justin Hemmes on Tuesday 4 March
He added: 'I had a fundraiser that day.
“But then flew up, that night had a meeting with Prime Minister Crisafulli and then lived the meeting of the disaster coordination authority that took place the next morning and then canceled everything else.”
During the joint press conference the next day, Mr Albanese referred to how he had arrived in Queensland late at night.
“I met Prime Minister Minns yesterday morning and I traveled late yesterday to Queensland and we had a very late meeting, I have to say Prime Minister last night to receive the first briefing,” said Mr. Albanian on Wednesday morning.
Questions are now being asked about whether Mr Albanese has forced the staff of the emergency services of Queensland to wait until late on Tuesday evening to inform him.
Details about his fundraising remain unclear. Daily Mail Australia approached the Prime Minister's office for comment.
The big difference between Mr. Albanese and the liberal leader was that Mr. Dutton left Queensland for a night before fundraising.
The opposition leader started his Northern Brisbane Electorate, in the suburb of Kedron, urged residents to prepare 'now' because the cyclone was a 'very serious event'.
Now it has emerged that the prime minister attended fundraising on the same day, after he had designed direct questions about it at least twice about it
“We must ensure that we listen to the advice, that people are preparing, and now it's time to listen to the authorities … About actions you have to take in terms of preparation in your own garden, around your own business building, in connection with supplies that you should offer for you and your family,” he said the local population.
After receiving a police briefing from Queensland on the cyclone next to the liberal prime minister of the state of David Crisafulli, he flew to Sydney later that morning.
He reportedly attended a lunch that was set up by ownership developer Fouad Deiri, who was held in the house of a Greek Orthodox bishop in southern Sydney.
A spokesperson for Mr Dutton told the media that it was not a fundraising event, it was a lunch meeting with Antiochic Archdiocoma representatives and there were no other political donors present. “
But news.com.au revealed on Monday that Mr Dutton's office had previously discussed a potential donation with Mr Deiri.
“Although a potential donation was discussed in February, it was in no way connected to the meeting with his eminence,” a spokesperson for the real estate developer told the publication.
“The only purpose of the meeting was for Mr Deiri, who is a board member of the Archdiocese, to introduce Mr Dutton to the Antiochic Orthodox Archbishop.”
That evening Mr Dutton attended fundraising in Mr Hemmes' $ 100 million mansion in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
Hospitality Mogul and Rich Lister Mr Hemmes, 52, is the boss of the Merivale Group who owns around 100 pubs, hotels and restaurants throughout Australia.
