ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Senator David Pocock has weighed into the ongoing teacup storm over the Prime Minister’s occasional Qantas upgrades, telling The Advocate that he’s lucky that he doesn’t need to fly home at the end of the week.
In fact, the Senator explained that he often doesn’t even need a shirt or even shoes.
At the end of a gruelling week at Parliament House, Canberra residents say it’s not uncommon to come across Senator Pocock running shirtless and barefoot along a dirt track on his way home from work.
“I don’t really need upgrades to travel in comfort,” he says.
“It’s a great time to relax, I think, and to explore some of the thoughts you have during the day. Listen to some tracks. Recall some funny moments from the past and try not a giggle too much. No, I don’t need to be horizontal or even sitting in a leather seat. I’m happy just to have the free peanuts and perhaps a sparkling water. A James Boags if it’s Friday,”
“But to get home, I just like to run barefoot. It feels way worse and it hurts my feet but I just like it, I dunno. If I see a big rock, I sometimes like to pick it up and take it with me. Gosh, you should see my front yard. It’s full of big rocks that I’ve brought home on my runs. Anyway, I don’t think it’s good, or bad of the Prime Minister to request upgrades. Or that he wants his son to have access to the so-called Chairman’s Lounge. I’ve been in there a few times and it’s actually not that impressive. Imagine being his age and being able to take your friends in there. They would think you’re the coolest cat in Marrickville,”
“Anyway. I don’t accept upgrades. If I’m too big for the chair, I just walk around and do some stretches. I’d like to take a look in the cockpit, it looks interesting. So that’s my opinion on that,”
“Do you have any other questions? It’s good to talk to you, mate.”
Our reporter said there were no more questions, on the record.
More to come.
