‘Crossroads’: Teal MPs form new political party
Two blue independent MPs have joined forces to form a new centrist party to counter political forces fueling division and pushing voters to extremes.
After weeks of talks, Warringah MP Zali Steggall and Wentworth MP Allegra Harsama announced the formation of Community Strong Australia on Thursday.
“Australia is at a crossroads. Across the country, Australians want something better: a policy that brings people together, tackles long-term challenges with courage and optimism, and gives communities a stronger voice in shaping the future,” they said in a statement.
The party’s focus areas include creating opportunity and prosperity, safety and security, housing affordability, cost of living pressures, climate change, childcare, education, healthcare and social cohesion.
“Australia is at a turning point and people are worried about what the future will bring. Strong Community Australia offers unity over division and reason over anger,” Ms Steggall said.
Lawmakers said they would work together to develop policy but vote freely and prioritize their communities.
The new party aims to build on the principles of the community independents movement, which include honesty, accountability, practical problem-solving and putting communities at the center of decision-making.
Ms Spending said Strong Society Australia was a direct response to many Australians’ feeling that politics was dominated by career politicians who did not listen to them.
“Our country’s success is built not on complaining or fighting with each other, but on the common good of hard work, tolerance, shared identity and purpose,” he said.
The women said the Strong Australian Community wanted to counter political forces that fuel division and push voters towards more extreme choices.
“At a time when others are encouraging conflict and hatred, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to offer a real political alternative and promote a positive narrative of what Australia is and what we can achieve together,” Ms Steggall said.
Independent Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele congratulated the pair, saying she looked forward to working with Strong Society Australia on policies around the economy, climate action and integrity.
“For now, I remain independent. That’s the mandate Bradfield has given me and any decision to change lies with my community, not the press conference,” he said.
“I’m still working out that this party will allow me to do things for the people I represent that I wouldn’t be able to do as an independent body, and I won’t pretend otherwise until I’m sure.”
The new party will engage with communities across the country in the coming months and support community-backed candidates and MPs in both houses of parliament, MPs said.
They said party registration was required before they could elect Senate candidates, and an application to register Strong Community Australia as a political party was expected to be finalized by October.
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