Teal independents in talks to set up their own party
While polls show growing support for One Nation, turquoise independents are considering forming a new political party to offer voters an alternative to the big parties.
Independent MP Zali Steggall, who holds former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott’s former Sydney seat of Warringah, confirmed the group was discussing how they could be more influential in parliament as Australia enters a period of “political change”.
“I’m always open… I’m in my third term and after seven years in parliament I can see that there are a lot of things we can do better and differently in politics,” he told ABC radio on Monday.
“There is great disappointment and unhappiness in the major parties.
“You see the coalition lurching to the right. The rise of One Nation is really worrying for many in our society.”
A number of independents came to power in the 2022 federal election, stripping the Liberals of some traditionally inner-city seats across the country.
Ms Steggall acknowledged there could be a potential loss of votes if they were no longer independent.
Analysis by RedBridge Group and Accent Research, published over the weekend, shows Pauline Hanson’s party could win up to 59 seats in the lower house if federal elections are held.
This would mean One Nation would become the federal opposition and Labor would be forced into a minority government.
Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has denied rumors that he was involved in talks to launch a turquoise political party.
“There’s a gap in Australian politics at the moment because the Liberal Party has moved too far to the right and in doing so has done enormous damage to itself,” he told ABC radio.
“There is space for an alternative center party.
“Obviously the Orangemen will be a part of it… but whether they actually decide to do it or not is up to them. So I’m not interested in any plans to set anything up.”
Wentworth MP Allegra Harcama, who now holds Mr Turnbull’s old seat, said there had been discussions over time about how politics could “evolve”.
“They (voters), frankly, are really concerned that the major parties aren’t addressing the issues that matter most to people,” he said.
“A lot of people say we need to do something different.
“So I’ve definitely had a lot of conversations, there’s nothing to announce at this time other than that.”
RedBridge analysis cautioned against the “reflexive interpretation” that growing support for One Nation indicates Australian society is lurching towards the far right.
Many people’s living standards and public services were deteriorating, while trust in institutions such as government, media and business was collapsing.
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