Teal MPs Forge New Political Alliance, Emphasizing Autonomy
Independent federal members Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall have announced the formation of a new political party, Community Strong Australia. The initiative aims to transform the current informal alliance of independents into a more cohesive political force. However, the party currently has no designated leader or candidates and is awaiting official registration.
Unique Model Prioritizes Individual MP Independence
During the launch on Thursday, Spender, the representative for Wentworth, emphasized that the party’s structure will diverge significantly from traditional political organizations. She stated that Members of Parliament will retain complete autonomy regarding their voting decisions on all matters.
“This is not a traditional party. MPs will vote freely on each and every issue,” Spender explained. Unlike established parties, Community Strong Australia will not require formal membership. The party’s foundational principle is to preserve the independence that has been central to the success of the Teal movement, while simultaneously facilitating enhanced coordination across various electorates.
“Community will remain at the core of policy development, alongside advice from experts. This movement started with the community, and that is where it will stay,” Spender added.
Key Independents Decline to Join New Party
Several prominent independent MPs, including Monique Ryan, Helen Haines, and Andrew Wilkie, have opted not to join the proposed party.
Criticism from Political Opponents
The announcement has drawn criticism from political opponents. Ro Knox, a former Liberal candidate who contested the 2025 Federal election against Spender, stated that the move to form a party contradicts the promises made by Spender and Steggall to their electorates to remain independent. Knox further commented that this action directly opposes their previous stance, which she described as demonizing parties and highlighting the value of their independence.
Knox also raised questions about Spender’s connections to Climate 200 and its convenor, Simon Holmes à Court, citing the significant financial backing Spender’s campaigns have received. “It is also unclear to me how Allegra Spender can step back from Climate 200 and Simon Holmes à Court given the vast amounts of capital poured into her campaign in 2022 and 2025,” Knox remarked.
Former Liberal candidate Katherine Deves also accused Spender and Steggall of masking their political alignment through the new party. “We all know they are Teals and they have been a party all along, so why maintain the pretence by calling themselves a community party?” Deves stated. She expressed confidence that voters in Warringah and Wentworth would see through the new party’s framing.
Party Aims to Scale ‘Community-First’ Model
In a social media statement, Spender outlined that the new party’s objective is to expand the ‘community-first’ model that propelled climate-focused independents into parliament. “Community Strong Australia is about extending that opportunity to more Australians, amplifying what we’ve built into a political force that can have real impact across the country,” she said.
Spender elaborated, “That means evidence-based policy developed with communities, not vested interests; MPs who vote for their community, not a party line.” When addressing criticism, Spender rejected the notion that the change vindicated her opponents. “What we’re building now is the ability to do that in more communities, and also in the Senate,” she said. “In terms of policy, there are already many areas where Zali and I have worked together and agree, and we’ll continue to build on that.”
Senate Candidacy and Electoral Reforms Drive Decision
Strategic electoral considerations, particularly concerning Senate campaigns, have also influenced the decision. Party registration offers structural advantages in upper house elections. “This party will give us the ability to support candidates in both houses, as you need a party structure to run in the Senate,” Spender noted. “It will also allow us to give support to more communities who want community-first candidates representing them.”
Recent electoral funding reforms are also seen as a factor, with independents expressing concerns that the changes favor established parties with substantial national spending capacity, while potentially limiting fundraising models like Climate 200. Spender indicated that major donors, including Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, have not been approached to contribute to the new entity.
