Peter Dutton’s office asked Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting for flight on private jet

Opposition leader, who says Anthony Albanese is obfuscating' in his answers on Qantas upgrades, says he never personally asked mining magnate

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Peter Dutton has admitted his office asked the mining billionaire Gina Rinehart's company for a lift on a Hancock Prospecting jet to a Bali bombing memorial service, days after he said he had never personally asked Australia's richest person for help with flights around Australia.

The opposition leader said his office's request to Hancock came after he claimed the government would not help him get a flight on a special purpose flight, that commercial options were not available, and that a chartered jet would be too expensive. The admission came as Dutton again ridiculed Anthony Albanese for his explanations over the widening Qantas upgrades scandal, accusing the prime minister of being dishonest".

Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email