Question Albo refused to answer

The Prime Minister’s only son, Nathan, reportedly secured the gig in the first half of 2021 after his father had a conversation with the firm’s former government relations boss Sean Gregory.

Mr Albanese was opposition leader at the time of the alleged conversation.

Mr Gregory, who has since been pushed out of the consultancy over the tax leaks scandal, then passed on Nathan’s information to the HR department, according to the Australian Financial Review.

On Monday, Mr Albanese was touring the new CSL Global Headquarters and Centre for Research and Development when he dismissed questions about the internship’s appropriateness.

“My son is not a public figure. My son is not a public figure. He’s a young person trying to make his way in the world,” the Prime Minister said.

He referred the media to remarks made by Nationals leader David Littleproud earlier in the day, in which the MP said Nathan was “well educated and well qualified”.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for politicians to be taking on other people’s family members. I know Nathan personally, I think he’s a fine young man,” he told Sky News.

“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.”

The revelations came as part of a series of critical articles in the AFR’s Rear Window column about Mr Albanese’s son.

Earlier this month, the paper revealed Nathan, 22, had received a pass into Qantas’ invite-only Chairman’s Lounge.

Qantas chief Alan Joyce personally curates the lounge’s membership list and approved granting the pass to Mr Albanese’s son.

Almost every politician has a membership to the ultra-exclusive club.

Asked why the membership was not disclosed on his parliamentary register of interests, the Prime Minister stressed that he “completely” complied with the requirements.

Mr Albanese and his son are known to be close. The Prime Minister on Monday told Melbourne’s Nova he the pair speaks every day.

“We tell each other that we love each other … I think that men have to be prepared to show affection and I think that is really important,” he told the radio station.

“Because kids growing up will go through some difficult times and that’s what will keep you close and make sure you grow into being great mates, as I am now with my son.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese declines to answer questions about son’s internship with PwC