Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender, both independent MPs in Australia’s federal parliament, have unveiled a new centrist party called Community Strength Australia. The party, which was launched in Canberra on Thursday, vows to provide an “alternative political force” that prioritises unity over division and reason over rage, and will not have a single leader.
The duo, part of a group of socially liberal independents known as “teals” who champion climate change action, criticised the polarising nature of the two‑party system. They said the rise in support for right‑wing parties like One Nation, and their anti‑immigration rhetoric, pressured them to create a platform that listens directly to voters.
The party’s manifesto focuses on practical issues such as housing affordability, cost‑of‑living pressures, climate change, childcare, education and health care. Spender added that the party will give “rooms for communities beyond our own to tell us who they are and what they want, a voice that genuinely reflects them.”
Steggall, a former barrister and Winter Olympian who defeated former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019, said the goal was to move beyond “in‑fighting, blame game” and towards solutions that matter for everyday Australians. “We want to make a difference for us,” she said.
Although Climate 200, a group that backs independents, will not be involved, the new party will benefit from recent electoral funding reforms that give registered parties larger campaign budgets.
The party’s registration is expected to be finalised in October, after lodging an application with the Australian Electoral Commission. Meanwhile, several other independents have decided not to join, while a couple of other teal MPs are still weighing their options.
