Independent Members of Parliament Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall announced Thursday the launch of a new political entity, Community Strong Australia, intended to formalize a coordinated approach among independent representatives. The party, which has not yet been registered and currently has no leader or candidates, aims to build on the success of the community-focused, independent model that saw several independents elected.
Spender, the Member for Wentworth, stated that the party's structure would not replicate traditional political parties, emphasizing that individual Members of Parliament would retain full autonomy over their voting decisions. "This is not a traditional party. MPs [will] vote freely on each and every issue," Spender said.
Unlike established parties, Community Strong Australia will not require formal membership. Spender indicated that the model is designed to preserve the independence that has been central to the Teals' electoral success while enabling greater coordination across electorates. "Community will remain at the core of policy development, alongside advice from experts. This movement started with the community, and that is where it will stay," she stated.
The initiative has drawn criticism from political opponents who argue the move contradicts Spender's and Steggall's promises to remain independent. Ro Knox, who ran against Spender in the 2025 Federal election, asserted that forming a party goes against their pledge to their electorates. "The move to form a party contradicts Allegra Spender's and Zali Steggall's promise to their electorates that they would remain independent," Knox told the Daily Mail. Knox also questioned Spender's past ties to Climate 200 and its convenor Simon Holmes à Court, citing campaign funding. "It is also unclear to me how Allegra Spender can step back from Climate 200 and Simon Holmes à Court given the vast amounts of capital poured into her campaign in 2022 and 2025," Knox added.
Former Liberal candidate Katherine Deves accused Spender and Steggall of masking their political alignment. "We all know they are Teals and they have been a party all along, so why maintain the pretence by calling themselves a community party?" Deves commented, suggesting voters in Warringah and Wentworth would recognize the shift.
Spender, in a social media statement, reiterated that the party aims to scale the "community-first" model used by climate-focused independents. "Community Strong Australia is about extending that opportunity to more Australians, amplifying what we've built into a political force that can have real impact across the country," she said. She added that the party would ensure "evidence-based policy developed with communities, not vested interests; MPs who vote for their community, not a party line."
When addressing criticism, Spender rejected claims that the change vindicated her opponents. "What we're building now is the ability to do that in more communities, and also in the Senate," she told the Daily Mail. She also noted existing areas of agreement and collaboration between herself and Steggall, indicating they would continue to build on this foundation.
The formation of a registered party also addresses electoral mechanics, particularly for Senate campaigns, where party registration offers structural advantages. "This party will give us the ability to support candidates in both houses, as you need a party structure to run in the Senate," Spender explained. "It will also allow us to give support to more communities who want community-first candidates representing them."
Recent electoral funding reforms were also cited as a factor, with independents expressing concern that the changes favor established parties with significant national spending capabilities, potentially limiting alternative fundraising models like Climate 200. Spender mentioned that major donors, including Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, have not been approached to participate in the new entity. 
