The teal independents in Australia, who stormed parliament in 2022 by defeating Liberal MPs in affluent seats, are now grappling with a familiar dilemma: form a party or remain fragmented. After years of presenting themselves as a virtuous alternative to the major parties, they are discovering that parties exist for a reason—to aggregate power, impose discipline, and allocate resources.
The Teal Problem
Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender have openly floated the idea of forming a party, arguing that 'staying still is not how you keep winning.' However, other prominent teals like Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, and Helen Haines quickly distanced themselves from the proposal. The movement, built on a rejection of party politics, is now struggling to agree on whether to become what it once opposed.
Internal Divisions
Even if they agreed to form a party, the teals would face immense challenges. Their political identities are rooted in individualism and localism, making party discipline almost impossible. A teal party room would likely resemble 'a group therapy session with standing orders,' as they disagree on leaders, policies, and strategy. The leadership contest alone—featuring Steggall's longevity, Spender's steadiness, Ryan's confidence, and David Pocock's Senate achievements—would be chaotic.
Changing Political Landscape
The teals' influence has waned under Labor's dominance, and the rise of One Nation has shifted anti-major-party energy to the populist right. Malcolm Turnbull has suggested the teals fill a vacuum for an alternative centre party, but they lack a national strategy and candidates beyond affluent seats. Meanwhile, new electoral funding laws, effective 2027, will block millions in Climate 200 donations, forcing the teals to reconsider their structure.
Catch-22
The teals face a catch-22: stay independent and remain fragmented, or become a party and confirm their critics' claims that the 'community independent' label was a marketing device. Their autonomy, localism, and self-belief, which made them attractive, also make them difficult to discipline. A unified position on gas, tax, Gaza, migration, and nuclear power would be nearly impossible.
Ultimately, the teals are all backbenchers with limited power and career progression. They may need to form a party to achieve more, but the spectacle of their internal battles will be entertaining to watch.
