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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Tory Shepherd

After teal wave of 2022, there was no ‘sophomore surge’. Where to from here for the independents?

Composite of Allegra Spender, David Pocock (bottom left), Andrew Wilkie and Zali Steggall. Right group: Nicolette Boele, Zoe Daniel (top) and Monique Ryan.
Labor and the Greens are not immune to erosion of their support from teal candidates, with votes for independents up from 5.3% in 2022 to more than 7% this year. Illustration: Guardian Design

As Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court sees it, there are no safe seats or silver medals in politics.

The political fundraising body Climate 200 supported 35 community independents – commonly called teals though some shirk that tag – in this year’s federal election. Nine have won, while votes are still being counted in other seats where teals are contenders.

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