Australia news LIVE: Former deputy CMO slams GP payroll tax ruling; Spain wins FIFA Women’s World Cup

Australia news LIVE: Former deputy CMO slams GP payroll tax ruling; Spain wins FIFA Women’s World Cup

To Melbourne, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has addressed media reporting about his 23-year-old son’s membership of the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge and an internship he secured at consulting giant PwC.

The Australian Financial Review’s Rear Window column has published a series of critical articles detailing Nathan Albanese’s membership of the exclusive club and a two-week unpaid internship the student reportedly undertook in 2021.

The newspaper – whose owner, Nine, also owns this masthead – cited sources who claimed Albanese discussed the internship with a PwC staffer in June 2020.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the opening of CSL’s new centre for research and development in Melbourne.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the opening of CSL’s new centre for research and development in Melbourne.Credit: Eddie Jim

Asked about the reports today, Albanese said: “My son is not a public figure. He is a young person trying to make his way in the world.”

Albanese was speaking at a press conference after touring the new CSL Global Headquarters and Centre for Research and Development.

Albanese is at the CSL opening with Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic, and Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney.

He added: “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.”

Littleproud, the National Party leader, said earlier today that he knew Albanese’s son, and he was an upstanding young man.

“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,” Littleproud said.

Asked if he complied with all his obligations to disclose his personal interests, Albanese said: “I completely comply with all of the requirements of the register.”