By james art 
Education Minister Jason Clare says he received a free flight upgrade after requesting it from Qantas staff when he traveled in a personal capacity from Sydney to Singapore in 2019.
Asked on Sky News how the upgrade came about, Clare said he “probably” contacted the airline’s government relations team to ask for help after the operation.
Education Minister Jason Clare Alex Ellinghausen
“I had to go to the hospital. You may remember that I had melanoma on my leg. I had to be cut off. My family was abroad. I caught up with them as soon as I was allowed.’
Clare’s admission of getting a free upgrade on a Qantas flight follows allegations in a new book by former Rear Window columnist Joe Aston The Chairman’s Lounge that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has requested free flight upgrades from the airline.
Clare said only he, not his family, received the personal travel upgrade.