Australia's freshly minted political party, led by two federal independents, could run candidates at state level but the decision on an election tilt will be left up to local communities
Sydney independents Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender have teamed up to launch the Community Strong Australia party following weeks of speculation the pair were prepared to ditch their status as independents.
The organisation aims to sit in the centre of Australia's political spectrum, but individual members will be allowed to make up their own mind on votes in parliament.
"This is an invitation out to more Australians to come and build the kind of Australia we want," Ms Steggall told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
Ms Steggall conceded the move would change little for her constituents but argued having a party structure would help double the impact of her Sydney electorate.
The party has lodged paperwork to register with the Australian Electoral Commission.
While its focus is on the 2028 federal election, Ms Steggall and Ms Spender are open to running in the 2027 NSW state election if the right candidate emerges.
It's unlikely the party will run in Victoria's November poll given the AEC registration process is expected to take about three months.
Community Strong Australia will not have a formal leader in Canberra, but Ms Spender flagged that situation could change if more parliamentary members joined its ranks.
"The constitution of the party basically says, until there's 10 ... members of parliament, we're not going to put in this sort of leadership structure," she said.
"That may evolve over time, but really we're starting together. We really want to build it from the ground up."
The pair disputed suggestions their move was only driven by new political donation laws which limit how much candidates can spend in each electorate.
Ms Steggall previously expressed concern the changes would make it more difficult for independents to get ahead and entrenched the incumbency of major parties.
The independent MPs indicated disaffected Liberal MPs could join the party.
"We are trying to build a broad church of people, but I think that they have to be really aligned to the values, and they also have to be really connected to community, because that's where we've come from," Ms Spender said.
Fellow Climate 200-backed independent Nicolette Boele congratulated the pair, saying she expected to work with Community Strong Australia on policies covering the economy, climate action and integrity.
"For now, I am remaining independent," she said.
"That is the mandate (the voters of) Bradfield gave me and any decision to change that belongs to my community, not to a press conference.
"I am still working through what this party would allow me to do for the people I represent that I cannot already do as a community independent - and until I am certain, I will not pretend otherwise."
Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said Community Strong Australia faced a difficult challenge.
"I wish them all the best, but if they can't even convince the teal MPs in parliament to join their party, I think they're going to really struggle to convince Australians to vote for their party," he told Sky News.
"The truth is that teals operate almost exactly the same as a political party, that they share a very common philosophy."
