Anyone can run for election as an Independent, but there is a growing movement behind ‘Community Independents’ in Australian politics right now.
Community Independents genuinely represent their community, reflect the values and views of their electorates, empower their communities through collaborating and partnering with them, have processes for their communities to actively participate in politics, and are co-creating with their communities real political change in Australia. They are not party members or single-issue politicians.
In the Federal electorate of Indi, Cathy McGowan was elected as an Independent in 2013 with a huge community volunteer campaign, taking a previously safe Liberal seat, and the community has kept the seat Independent for the last 4 federal elections. Their current member, Helen Haines, has continued to work closely with the community and has led the federal Parliament’s development of world-leading anti-corruption (ICAC) legislation.
Since 2019, Zali Steggal was elected as a community independent in the lower house seat in Warringah. In 2022, a new wave of community independents joined federal parliament, often called the 'Teals' by the media.
In the Australian Senate:
- David Pocock was elected in the Senate (ACT).
In the lower house:
- Dr Sophie Scamps was elected in the seat of Mackellar (NSW
- Allegra Spender was elected in the seat of Wentworth (NSW)
- Kylie Tink was elected in the seat of North Sydney (NSW)
- Dr Monique Ryan was elected in the seat of Kooyong (VIC)
- Zoe Daniels was elected in the seat of Goldstein (VIC)
- Kate Chaney was elected in the seat of Curtain (WA)
These so-called ‘teals’ are Community Independents, who are all working closely with the grassroots members of their electorates and upholding a high level of transparency.
It is crucial that Community Independents truly represent community concerns, and pursue evidence-based policy, above their own career agenda or personal interests.
Learn more about what Community Independents can achieve.