AUSTRALIA'S NEWEST POLITICAL PARTY:
* Two federal MPs elected as so-called teal independents will officially be a parliamentary duo.
WHAT IS THIS PARTY?
* The party's name is Community Strong Australia (CSA) and is expected to be registered with the electoral commission by October
* Independent MPs Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender, representing affluent Sydney electorates, will be the only members in parliament for the time being
*The party will have no leader - its constitution says MPs will lead it collectively
WHAT DO THEY STAND FOR?
* CSA's policy pillars are sensible economic management, climate action, equality and integrity, which its constitution doesn't elaborate on
* Both MPs describe the party as centrist, and say they agree on 90 per cent of issues
* In parliament, CSA's members can vote however they like, except if the party agrees to support the government on control of parliament and on the budget, known as confidence and supply
* Ms Spender is particularly vocal on tax reform, and Ms Steggall on climate action, but neither has volunteered to be the party's spokesperson on any policy area
WHY CREATE A PARTY NOW?
* Looming campaign finance changes mean parties can spend much more than independents on getting elected, and can target their money more freely
* From 2027, independents' campaign spending will be capped at $800,000, but parties can spend up to $90 million nationwide; there were previously no limits
* Ms Steggall and Ms Spender say this isn't the reason they're creating their party now, claiming "homeless" voters want an alternative to Labor, the coalition and One Nation
* The MPs also say a poll they commissioned before Christmas 2025 endorsed forming a party and letting its members vote freely
WHERE WILL THEY RUN?
* CSA wants senators to join its duo in the lower house, and is also open to running in state elections
* The Victorian election in November will fall too early to run a proper campaign, but they haven't ruled out running in the NSW election in 2027
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER TEALS?
* Sydney independent MPs Sophie Scamps and Nicolette Boele are waiting to see what their communities think before joining CSA
* Victorian MP Monique Ryan and WA MP Kate Chaney, and Senator David Pocock, are not signing up
Australian Associated Press