Zali Steggall has refused to give up her Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership, amid mounting political pressure as the flight upgrade scandal engulfs both sides of Parliament in Canberra and begins to creep into the crossbench. Steggall, a teal independent member for Warringah in Sydney’s lower north shore, was questioned about perks for politicians during Hot Topics on Sunrise. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Zali Steggall says she will keep Chairman’s Lounge membership.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Her comments came after Minister for Education Jason Clare admitted on Sky News at the weekend he had requested and been given an upgrade on a private flight after being unable to answer the question when he was grilled by Nat Barr on Sunrise last Friday. The firestorm started after former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston claimed in his new book The Chairman’s Longue: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had solicited and been given 22 free Qantas flight upgrades. Albanese has rejected the allegations.
In the past few days, several of Stegall’s fellow teals, the independent member for Wentworth Allegra Spender, the WA independent Kate Chaney and Victorian independent Helen Haines have announced they would quit the VIP lounges. Stegall joined journalist Joe Hildebrand on Tuesday, where she was questioned by host Monique Wright if she would also give up the perks on principle. “Zali, would you do the sa.