Zali Steggall: MP attacked by opponents over explanation for accepting $100k from coal donor

Zali Steggall has apologised for failing to properly declare political donations but her Liberal opponents still label her a hypocrite.

Independent MP Zali Steggall has been labelled a “hypocrite” by her political opponents over the $100,000 donation declaration affair.

The high profile member for Warringah apologised on Tuesday for what she described as an accounting error amid claims she failed to declare the pledge from a wealthy family with links to coal investments.

But Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg, the federal government’s duty senator for Warringah, hit out at her explanation and denials that she covered up the pledge to her 2019 election campaign from the Kinghorn Family Trust.

Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall celebrates her victory at the 2019 federal election. She has hit back at claims she did not properly disclose campaign donations. AAP Image/Dylan Coker

Ms Steggall was the focus of potentially politically damaging media reports that she received the money split into eight separate donations of $12,500, to avoid scrutiny by electoral authorities.

“(She) is a hypocrite who runs on transparency but failed to disclose a $100,000 donation,” Senator Bragg said.

“She lambasted journalists and accused them of doing a ‘hit job’ when they were just doing their job as the fourth estate.

“She deceived and misled voters in Warringah and now it has unravelled, she’s trying to blame the Liberal party for why she wasn’t honest – that’s an exceptionally long bow to draw.

“Ms Steggall is a failed activist, who will never be a decision maker in a government.”

Mr Bragg’s statement was put to Ms Steggall who did not respond by publication.

Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg in his office at Parliament House. He blasted Zali Steggall for being a “hypocrite’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Ms Steggall’s campaign received, but did not declare, eight individual donations from members of the trust headed by prominent businessman John Kinghorn, a former investor in, and director of, Cascade Coal and Felix Resources.

Each pledge was below the $13,800 threshold above which donations have to be declared.

But in its audit of campaign donations the Australian Electoral Commission found that Ms Steggall only received one cheque for $100,000 from the trust.

Ms Steggall, who is an advocate for integrity in politics and transparency in political donations, apologised for the mistake by her former campaign accountants.

Speaking to Radio National, Ms Steggall said the paperwork was corrected as soon as it was brought to her attention.

“It wasn’t hidden from the public.

“The fact that $100,000 was donated to the campaign was at all times declared.

“I received eight pledges, eight receipts were issued … but when we discovered that the accountant failed to raise that a single cheque had been issued and the AEC considered that as a single donation … the record was corrected.

“I accept that people are upset by this.

“I absolutely apologise.

“We corrected it as soon as we could.

“I was very upset at the mistake, I can assure you”.

Independent MP Zali Steggall said all campaign donations were disclosed. AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Ms Steggall denied that she, or any of her campaign team at the time, instructed the donors to split their pledges into eight parts.

She said individual donations may have been made because people feared they would be targeted if they are seen making a donation to her campaign.

“People donating to my campaign were incredibly nervous about being targeted by the Liberal Party.”

Ms Steggall said she keen to talk about the issue because it showed the need for reform in political donations.

“We need more transparency.

“I was not trying to be sneaky.”

The potentially damaging headlines come as she prepares her re-election campaign at the upcoming election. Picture: Facebook (Zali Steggall)

On Monday Ms Steggall said her campaign received more than 1700 individual donations towards her 2019 election campaign.

She also defended claims that she was taking donations from coal investors.

“If you ruled out taking donations from anyone who has invested in coal at one time or another, you pretty well rule out everyone as most people have, through their superannuation.

“What is important is for people to now turn away from fossil fuel investment and support Australia’s transition to clean energy and support MPs with solutions.”