The prime minister Anthony Albanese has said his son “is not a public figure” in response to media reports claiming that he helped Nathan land a two-week, unpaid internship at consultancy firm PwC Australia.
On Monday, the Australian Financial Review cited multiple sources who they say claimed Albanese had discussions with the firm’s former government relations boss Sean Gregory about a position when Albanese was opposition leader in 2021.
According to the report, a spokesman for the prime minister said “What you have suggested is incorrect” but did not clarify what was incorrect.
Nathan went on to secure a two-week, unpaid placement in PwC’s economics and policy unit in Sydney. It alleged that at a function months later, Albanese leader thanked former PwC chief executive Tom Seymour for organising the internship.
When asked by reporters whether the alleged engagement would have been appropriate, Albanese did not directly address the story’s allegation but questioned why the media were focused on his family.
“My son is not a public figure,” Albanese told reporters on Monday.
“He is a young person trying to make his way in the world and it is up to you to ask whatever questions you like, but I refer you to David Littleproud’s comments that were entirely appropriate when he was asked about that.”
The Nationals leader had refused to comment on the allegations raised by the Australian Financial Review and said it was inappropriate to comment on other politician’s family members.
“I know Anthony Albanese’s son. He is well educated and well qualified and as far as I’m concerned, a very good young man,” Littleproud said.
“He’ll make a great contribution to wherever he goes. I don’t think we need to get into the personal attacks of family members, from my perspective anyway.”
During a press conference on Monday, Albanese was also asked about his son’s membership of the Qantas chairman’s lounge and whether that had been appropriately disclosed.
All federal MPs and their spouses are given chairman’s lounge membership, but the membership was not disclosed on the register of members’ interests.
“I completely comply with all the requirements of the register,” Albanese told reporters on Monday.
In 2014, the former prime minister Tony Abbott also faced media scrutiny about whether his family’s circumstances should have been disclosed on his register of interest.
Abbott’s daughter Frances received a “chairman’s scholarship” for a degree costing more than $60,000 from the Whitehouse Institute of Design, where an Abbott donor sat as chairman on the board of governors.
A code of conduct for ministers, signed by Albanese in June 2022, said ministers must “ensure that they declare any private interests held by them or members of their families which give rise to, or are likely to give rise to, a conflict with their public duties”.
A spokesperson for the prime minister at the time confirmed that Abbott’s daughter Frances was a recipient of a scholarship at the institute and said it was awarded as a result of her “application and art portfolio”. The spokesperson said disclosure of the scholarship was “not required”.
“Under the Statement of Registrable Interests a scholarship is not a gift, it is an award based on merit and disclosure is not required. If alternative advice is provided, Mr Abbott will meet the amended requirements,” the spokeswoman said.
