Teal independents
They have been characterised as strongly advocating for increased action to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions along with improved political integrity and accountability.
They also generally share socially liberal outlooks, including on issues such as LGBT rights, and have harnessed grassroots campaigning to achieve strong swings towards them.
The eponymous colour teal, which has been interpreted by some journalists as a blend of the blue of the Liberal Party and a green signifying green politics,[1][2] was a dominant feature of campaign branding used by high-profile independent candidates Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender, Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniel and Sophie Scamps;[3][4] however, not all candidates used the colour.
The members accept the "teal" moniker but reject attack lines that suggest the group function as a political party and that their policy platforms are not truly independent.
[citation needed] The teal movement originates with constituents of the Division of Indi in rural Victoria, who prepared a report about issues in their electorate.
[5][6] Mirabella also caused controversy when she took credit for multiple health-related projects in Indi, where she had done minimal campaigning, instead leaving it to the local community.
[8] In 2017, Sandy Bolton was elected as the member for the state electorate of Noosa, running on a platform of climate change and local issues.
The result was attributed to the dumping of Turnbull, a popular local member and moderate, by the party's conservative wing, as prime minister in favour of Morrison.
[13][14] Climate change was also cited as a key factor in Phelps' win, which conservatives in the Liberal Party had pushed to weaken emission reduction laws.
[17] Simon Holmes à Court, founder of fundraising group Climate 200, expressed anger that he did not invest in Phelps' campaign sufficiently, stating that Climate 200 was "kicking ourselves afterwards that we had under-invested in Kerryn's campaign,"[18] and that he believed that a few thousand dollars in additional funding would have resulted in Phelps retaining the seat.
[22] On New Year's Day, 2019, former alpine skier, bronze medallist at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and lawyer, Zali Steggall, appeared in a 'Vote Tony Out' T-shirt, created by the community group of the same name.
At the rally, Steggall outlined her key campaign promises, including climate change action, human rights issues, mental health and domestic violence.
[25] Steggall was able to garner over $1.1 million in donations, including Climate 200, bankrolled by Holmes à Court and Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes.
He generated further controversy after refusing, along with his Minister for Women, Marise Payne, to publicly speak to the March 4 Justice protesters, who had surrounded Parliament House.
[32][33] At the 2022 federal election, teal independents defeated six sitting Liberal MPs; Allegra Spender in Wentworth, Kylea Tink in North Sydney, Zoe Daniel in Goldstein, Monique Ryan in Kooyong, Kate Chaney in Curtin, and Sophie Scamps in Mackellar.
Voices groups and Climate 200 stood candidates in a number of seats at the 2022 Victorian election,[38][39][40] however none won and only two reached a two-candidate-preferred vote.
[46] Most teal independent candidates have received the support of fundraising group Climate 200, a political funding company led by Simon Holmes à Court.
[59] A number of former politicians on the advisory council of Climate 200 endorsed the teal independents, including John Hewson, Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Meg Lees.
Turnbull, whose former seat of Wentworth was won by Spender, encouraged moderate Liberals to consider voting for the teal independents.
[61] In one overall supportive editorial, The Age found that the teal independents "have often struggled to articulate policies crucial issues to Australia, including its relationship with China, the mounting debt bill, tax reform and cost-of-living pressures".
