Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender have launched a new political party, Community Strong Australia, which they say is designed to bring the “community-led” political model to more Australians.
The new party will support “community-backed” candidates and parliamentarians in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Steggall and Spender, who were elected as independents, say party registration is now needed so more candidates can run for the Senate. The party would need five parliamentary members to reach “minority party” status.
The party also comes after Labor introduced new donations laws that disadvantage independents.
Community Strong Australia will allow parliamentarians to exercise a free vote in parliament, and says it is focused on four pillars: “sensible” economic management, climate action, political integrity and equality.
The party said it will focus on practical solutions to issues like housing affordability, cost of living pressures, climate change, childcare, education, healthcare and social cohesion.
“The community independent movement has shown what’s possible when people unite around shared values and practical solutions. Community Strong Australia is about extending that opportunity to more Australians,” Steggall said.
“Australia is at a turning point and people are worried about what the future holds. Community Strong Australia offers unity over division and reason over rage. We invite everyone who shares those values to join us.”
Spender said the party comes as a response to what many Australians have been calling for: a “positive, responsible” alternative to the major parties.
“Too many Australians feel politics is dominated by career politicians who don’t listen to them,” Spender said.
“They deserve representatives who can bring real world experience to parliament. They want a new political organisation that can bring people together and give communities the power to shape their own future.”
Steggall and Spender say the party is focused on bringing Australians together at a moment where some political forces are fuelling division and pushing voters to more extreme choices.
The party comes as polling for the major parties continues to decline, and as One Nation’s popularity rises.
“At a time when others are promoting conflict and hate, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to provide a real political alternative and promote a positive narrative about what Australia is and what we can achieve together,” Steggall said.
Spender said Community Strong Australia will focus on community, participation and practical solutions.
“Our country’s success wasn’t built on complaining or fighting each other. It was built on the common good of hard work, tolerance, shared identity and purpose,” she said.
“It was built from communities up – and that is where politics needs to return.”
As yet, there is no official leader of the party but Steggall has said a leadership structure may be introduced if the party grows.
No other ‘teal’ MPs or crossbenchers have joined Community Strong Australia, with prominent figures like Senator David Pocock, Monique Ryan and Kate Chaney ruling out their involvement.
Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele released a statement on Thursday congratulating Steggall and Spender on the party but saying she would remain independent “for now”.
“That is the mandate Bradfield gave me, and any decision to change that belongs to my community, not to a press conference,” Boele said.
“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. On policy, I expect to work with Community Strong Australia often.”
Other crossbenchers including Helen Haines, Andrew Wilkie and Rebekha Sharkie have ruled out joining the party.
Community Strong Australia has filed its registration papers with the Australian Electoral Commission. This is expected to be formalised by October.
The party is not directly linked to political funding organisation Climate 200, which has supported several ‘teal’ MPs across the country, and Steggall has confirmed there has been no prior agreement with the organisation over funding.
The party intends to field candidates in both the House of Representatives and the Senate at the 2028 federal election.