Independent MP Zali Steggall slams ‘misleading’ Liberal-backed website zalihasfailed.com

Independent Warringah MP Zali Steggall has called a Liberal-backed website trying to discredit her voting record, as “misleading”. But a top Liberal says the “data doesn’t lie”.

A war of words has broken out between independent Warringah MP Zali Steggall and a Liberal Senator responsible for a new website called ‘Zali has failed’, as the party’s fight to win back the seat gets personal.

The site zalihasfailed.com is authorised by NSW Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg, who also holds the role of Liberal spokesman for Warringah.

It states that Ms Steggall has voted with Labor 64 per cent of the time since getting elected in 2019, when she ousted Liberal titan and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott from the seat after 25 years.

The new website comes as Liberal sources have been saying for months that the party will be throwing everything at the next election in a bid to win the traditionally blue-ribbon seat back.

Officials even opened a new Liberal office in Ms Steggall’s suburb last year to boost its profile in the run up to the election, due before the end of May next year.

However, Ms Steggall disputes claims on the website, calling it “misleading”.

She said she has voted for the Government 54 per cent of the time.

She said that 460 of the 760 votes that have happened to date was the Government shutting down debate in the House of Representatives by gagging members of parliament.

Independent Member for Warringah Zali Steggall poses for a portrait at Parliament House in Canberra in 2020. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

“They can do this because they have a majority. On these votes I opposed the shutdown of debate,” Ms Steggall said.

“These votes plus 110 votes with the opposition on legislation is what Senator Bragg is claiming as my voting record with Labor.”

She said 80 per cent of legislation passes on the voices unopposed, and of the 300 votes that have happened in this parliament, she has voted with the Government 161 times, the opposition 114 times and crossbench 14 and has abstained from 11 votes, not including votes where she was prevented from attending parliament due to Covid restrictions).

“This means I have voted with Government 54 per cent of the time,” Ms Steggall said.

Australian politician Senator Andrew Bragg in his office at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

However, Mr Bragg said he defended the claims made saying the “data doesn’t lie”.

“Ms Steggall’s record is what it is,” he said.

“The clear majority of the time she votes with the Labor Party.

“Steggall votes with Labor 64 per cent of the time despite Labor having a primary vote of just six per cent in Warringah.

“You cannot exclude procedural votes as many relate to legislation and voters need to see a complete record.

“The standard used in this instance is the accepted bipartisan approach based upon Parliamentary Library information.”

The ‘Zali has failed’ website also criticised her Climate Change Bill - she largely fought the last election on the issue of the environment.

The site states the bill did not even gain the support of Labor and was “an orphan with no support”.

A war of words has broken out between Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg and independent Warringah MP Zali Steggall.

Ms Steggall said that claim was “misleading as well”.

“The bill has had broad support in parliament and across society,” she said.

“In a recent vote in parliament the lower house crossbench and Labor both supported debate on the Climate Change Bill; the Coalition blocked debate.”

She added that across the country the bill has support from more than 100 organisations including the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia, Unilever and the Australian Medical Association.

Zali Steggall hugs bushfire survivor Nick Hopkins of Malua Bay, pictured with debris from his house at Parliament House on February 11, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. The protesters are making a symbolic "trail of destruction" that leads from parliament to the Minerals Council of Australia's head office to urge businesses and politicians to cut ties with mining lobbyists. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

“The Climate Change Bill was also supported in 99.9 per cent of the submissions made to the recent Committee inquiry into the bill,” Ms Steggall said.

Mr Bragg said the bill was old news.

“Ms Steggall’s bill was rejected by a bipartisan committee months ago,” he said.

“The Coalition does not support the bill because it duplicates the Climate Change Authority and gives legally dubious powers to the proposed ‘Climate Commission’.

“Ms Steggall has simply reintroduced a similar bill without taking on any of the feedback or amendments from the bipartisan committee.”

Ms Steggall recently tabled a Private Members’ Bill to improve public trust in political advertising by banning inaccurate or misleading ads during election campaigns.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne with Senator Andrew Bragg and State MP James Griffin, far right, were at the launch of the new Liberal office, called Liberal House, in Balgowlah. Picture: Supplied.

“Public trust in politicians has been eroded over time, some of that erosion is due to their propensity to lie and the lack of accountability,” she said.

“The Stop the Lies Bill that I have proposed aims to prohibit misleading and deceptive statements of fact in political advertising,” she said.

“The website (zalihasfailed.com) contains many such statements and as such may be captured by the proposed legislation.”

Ms Steggall recently called out a ‘faceless’ group called Our Future Warringah for its political attacks against her and its use of “disinformation and manipulation” on its website and across its social media sites.

In response to this Mr Bragg said: “Her voting record is accurate. It is based on Parliamentary Library data.”