Bridget McKenzie has apologised for failing to declare more than a dozen free flight upgrades to business class after attacking the prime minister over the same issue.
The Nationals frontbencher received 16 upgrades between 2015 and 2024, according to an updated register of interests circulated on Wednesday.
Senator McKenzie conducted an audit of her travel on Qantas, Virgin and Rex and wrote to airlines requesting her travel information following media reports she failed to declare upgrades.
"Deficiencies in disclosing these matters do not meet the expectations of the Australian people and the parliament and were an oversight on my part, and for this I apologise," she said in a statement.
"I have and will continue to prosecute the Albanese Labor government’s failure to ensure greater competition in the aviation sector on behalf of all Australian travellers."
Qantas upgraded her from economy to business class on three flights between 2022 and 2024 taken for parliamentary business because of her frequent flyer status, "upgrades which I did not seek", she said.
Senator McKenzie was upgraded on six personal flights by Qantas between 2015 and 2018 which were previously undeclared.
Seven domestic flight upgrades were given to her by Virgin between 2015 and 2019.
"I have never sought free upgrades, which has been affirmed by the airlines to the extent of their records," she said.
The about-face from Senator McKenzie took the wind out of the opposition's sails following its attacks against the prime minister.
Reports Prime Minister Anthony Albanese solicited flight upgrades from then-Qantas chief Alan Joyce promoted days of outcry and debate over politician's perks.
Mr Albanese denied directly asking the CEO for upgrades.
He received 22 flight upgrades, including some when he was transport minister.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused the prime minister of not being upfront with the public before he released his denial, with Mr Albanese saying he was checking flight records to make sure any statements were correct.
Labor then turned on Mr Dutton for soliciting a private flight from mining magnate and billionaire Gina Rinehart, which he said was taken because flights were unavailable and an RAAF charter would cost about $40,000.
The flight was declared on his register of interests.
Senator McKenzie's declaration reinvigorated calls to ban free flight upgrades for politicians to prevent airlines from wielding undue influence.
“This is about restoring trust and integrity in how MPs and Senators engage with the aviation sector," Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown said.
