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November 2nd, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda 
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Treasurer Wayne Swan are among the MPs that have received free upgrades from Qantas.
Source: AP
QANTAS has given free upgrades on international flights valued at tens of thousands of dollars to federal MPs and their families, including Treasurer Wayne Swan and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
Some MPs, in return for being frequent flyers, have received iPads or bottles of expensive wine and tickets to events such as the AFL Grand Final.
In most cases, politicians have not requested the upgrade while gifts are sometimes passed on to charity.
Qantas is not the only airline or company generous to MPs, but it hasn’t stopped criticism of its decision at the weekend to lock out staff and ground its fleet.
Mr Swan, his family and staff have been upgraded a combined 12 times in the past year, according to information disclosed by the Treasurer to Parliament.
Last New Year’s Eve, Mr Swan, his wife and three children received an upgrade on a Qantas flight from Brisbane to Los Angeles.
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Mr Swan was also upgraded on a flight to San Francisco and Hong Kong, while there were five upgrades from business to first class for his staff travelling on work trips to international meetings.
Mr Abbott and his wife were upgraded to business class on their recent holiday to Britain.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon enjoyed an upgrade from business to first class on a Melbourne-LA return flight from in September.
Assistant treasurer Bill Shorten was given tickets and hospitality to last year’s AFL Grand Final by Qantas boss Alan Joyce, though has not stopped Mr Shorten being one of the strongest critics of the lockout by the airline.
Mr Shorten, who has hundreds of Qantas staff living in his Moonee Ponds-based electorate, said he would not stop flying Qantas because of a mistake by its senior management.
Liberals who declared Qantas upgrades include former minister Kevin Andrews, who said he and his wife were bumped up to business class on a London flight.
Senator Cory Bernardi was lifted to first class on an LA flight and Victorian MP Kelly O’Dwyer was automatically upgraded to business for a return trip to LA that she paid for.
Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop, Opposition defence spokesman David Johnston and Schools Minister Peter Garrett were given iPads. Mr Garrett gave his to a school in his electorate.
hudsonp@heraldsun.com.au
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