Australia politics live: speculation teals may form new party; Gaza flotilla activists arrive home | Australia news
Cabinet minister says turquoise party speculation ‘no surprise’
Mark Butler He says the political spectrum is currently “in flux” and he is not surprised to see speculation that independents in society might form a party.
Speaking on the ABC’s News Breakfast this morning, the health secretary says (rather unsurprisingly) that this is “a matter for them”.
There is this speculation this morning: Allegra Spender And Zali Steggall He may be leading talks for a group of independents. independent senator David Pocock He said yesterday he was open to a party forming to counter One Nation.
Butler’s statement is as follows:
Them [teal independents] Improvements have clearly been made in certain communities in Australia. They will make their own assessment of whether this will work for them.
Frankly there is a lot of change in non-Labour parts of politics at the moment, so it is perhaps no surprise to see such speculation.
important events
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Menopause national awareness campaign launched
A first-ever nationwide campaign to raise awareness about menopause and perimenopause symptoms will be launched today.
The federal government campaign, which runs until the end of the year, is designed to uncover how women experience symptoms and direct them to health information and treatment options.
The campaign emerged as a result of a Senate inquiry in 2024, which found that many women enter this stage of life with a lack of knowledge about the impact of symptoms and where to get help.
women’s minister Katy Gallagherin question:
Menopause shouldn’t come as a surprise, but too long silence and stigma have left many women in the dark… It’s important that this campaign reflects the different experiences of perimenopause and menopause, because no two women experience it the same and every woman deserves to be seen and supported.
READ MORE:
‘They haven’t learned anything’: Steggall criticizes Abbott as Liberal party chief
Zali Steggall He criticizes the public by saying that they want rational policies, not “culture wars” Tony Abbott‘s appointment as Liberal party leader is imminent.
Abbott was the only candidate to run for president after the other candidate (the former secretary of state). Alexander Downer – chose to run for one of the vice presidential positions instead.
Steggall told RN Breakfast the appointment showed the party had “learned nothing”.
The Australian people want sensitive people, rational policies. They don’t want culture wars. They don’t want the blame game. They want something constructive.
The Coalition now wants net zero to be scrapped, which would mean taking Australia out of the Paris Agreement… They want to blame the immigrants who actually built Australia…
Division is toxic and putting Tony Abbott in office shows they have learned nothing.
Steggall confirms independents are in talks: ‘There are talks’
One of the MPs in the middle of the teal party whispers: Zali SteggallHe confirmed to the ABC’s RN Breakfast that talks were ongoing among the group of independents about forming a party.
Steggall said the talks looked at how they could work “collaboratively to be more effective at holding government to account”
Steggall sacks former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott In the Sydney seat of Warringah in 2019.
The Independent says he is considering different options but warns that not all media speculation is true and ignores that he is in talks with other Liberals.
There are conversations [with independents]. That’s all I can say at this point… I’ve worked hard on the crossbench with my fellow members in both chambers, the Senate and the House. I can really see how we find efficiency, we work together to support each other.
I had arguments with David [Pocock]As I have done with many others. But only independents are speculating about discussions with the Liberals… I certainly haven’t had those discussions.
Steggall also says he met with Malcolm Turnbull during his time as a parliamentarian, but this is not related to the potential initiative.
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Wong leaves for quadripartite meeting in India
Penny Wong He will travel to India today to meet the foreign ministers of India, Japan and the US for the third Quad meeting in 18 months.
Amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, energy security is expected to be among the hot topics discussed by the four countries.
The foreign minister said the Quad partnership was “vital” in “uncertain times”.
He said:
As we continue to build Australia’s future in an increasingly unstable world, the Albanian government will continue to strengthen Australia’s relationships and work even harder in new and existing coalitions such as the Quad.
At the last meeting in July 2025, the countries agreed to work together to diversify the global supply of critical minerals in response to concerns about China’s market dominance.
‘If it walks like a duck…’ Hume calls turquoise party the worst kept secret in Canberra
Liberal deputy leader, Jane HumeHe says the turquoise colors in party talks are Canberra’s “worst kept secret” and argues the group has been acting like a party for some time.
He told Sky News the move would be good for Labor and the Greens because the teals voted for them “70% of the time”.
Let me take a moment to give you some facts about this topic. This is a claim that the Coalition made a lot, especially during the last parliamentary term and during the 2025 election campaign.
If you want to see how frequent community independents are Actually I voted for the Greens over Labor or the Coalition – read this very detailed fact check from my colleague, Nick Evershed:
Now let’s return to Hume:
This is probably the worst kept secret in Canberra, isn’t it? For several years we have been saying that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Teal has been a party since it started. They had the same funding sources, they had the same campaign teams, they wore the same colors, but worse, they had the same slogan and the slogan was about integrity and that integrity has now gone out the window.
When Hume was asked if he had received an offer to join the new party, he said “absolutely not” and added:
I think changing political parties is a bit like changing football teams. I can’t understand why people even consider this.
Butler: Treatment of Australians by Israeli forces and minister ‘disgraceful’
Minister of Health, Mark ButlerHe said the government had raised concerns “in the strongest possible terms” with the Israeli government over the treatment of Australian and international activists detained by Israel following the seizure of their fleet in international waters.
Israeli minister highlighted Itamar Ben Gvir He was condemned internationally after posting a video in which he abused captured activists.
Butler told ABC:
we have [raised these issues] In the strongest possible way, both in Israel and with the Israeli ambassador to Australia in Canberra.
The treatment of Australians and people from many other countries was disgraceful, particularly the behavior of Minister Ben Gvir. We voiced our concerns in the strongest possible way. We’re really pleased that Australians are now starting to return home and reunite with their families, but this is a particularly worrying event.
Cabinet minister says turquoise party speculation ‘no surprise’
Mark Butler He says the political spectrum is currently “in flux” and he is not surprised to see speculation that independents in society might form a party.
Speaking on the ABC’s News Breakfast this morning, the health secretary says (rather unsurprisingly) that this is “a matter for them”.
There is this speculation this morning: Allegra Spender And Zali Steggall He may be leading talks for a group of independents. independent senator David Pocock He said yesterday he was open to a party forming to counter One Nation.
Butler’s statement is as follows:
Them [teal independents] Improvements have clearly been made in certain communities in Australia. They will make their own assessment of whether this will work for them.
Frankly there is a lot of change in non-Labour parts of politics at the moment, so it is perhaps no surprise to see such speculation.
Welcome
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji I’m with you for a busy sitting week ahead.
There are many topics on the agenda this week; The government is trying to implement budget promises that could see changes to capital gains tax cuts following widespread backlash from industry and investor groups.
Teal says independents could come together to form new party David Pocock. It is said that whispered conversations took place behind the scenes. Zali Steggall And Allegra Spender – and a new party could push back against One Nation’s growing influence.
Australian activists in the last Gaza flotilla are returning home after being detained in Israel. The group alleged mistreatment and harassment by Israeli forces.
And this week the Senate has its picks, which means department officials will face criticism in the election, and we’ll be watching with excitement. We will bring you all the interesting details as they become available.
