Election 2025: Climate 200 runs most candidates in Coalition seats, none in Greens seats

The majority of Climate 200 backed candidates are running in electorates held by the Coalition including seats held by senior Liberals including Peter Dutton and Sussan Ley.

The majority of Climate 200 backed candidates are running in electorates held by the Coalition including seats held by senior Liberals including opposition leader Peter Dutton and deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley.

More than half, 19 out of a total of 35, are running in seats held by the Coalition while three are running in seats won by then Coalition MPs who are running as independents at the May 3 election.

This includes Ian Goodenough in Moore Russell Broadbent in Monash, who both quit the Libs after losing preselection battles, and Andrew Gee, who quit the Nats after the party opposed an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Only five are running in seats held by Labor where the Coalition is mounting a push to win.

No Climate 200 candidates are running in Greens seats.

Zoe Daniel, the independent MP for Goldstein, is part of the "Teal Independents," a group of centrist candidates advocating for stronger climate action, political integrity, and gender equality. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Mr Dutton is facing teal independent candidate Ellie Smith, the Greens and Labor’s Ali Frances in the Queensland seat of Dickson that the opposition leader holds by a margin of one point seven per cent.

Mr Dutton received 42.07 per cent of first preference votes at the last election.

Redbridge director Tony Barry said Climate 200 was effectively a front for Labor and was attempting to divert Coalition resources away from marginal seats.

“It’s about drawing more Coalition resources into these seat battles, which means less resources for Coalition marginal seats versus Labor,” said Mr Barry, a former Liberal Party strategist.

Material from the Liberal Party's anti-Teal campaign highlighting the Teals’ voting records and their policy priorities.

“They are the Greens but only less transparent.”

In the NSW seat of Farrer, Ms Ley will defend her margin of 66.35 per cent against Climate 200 backed Michelle Milthorpe and Labor’s Glen Hyde.

In Victoria, shadow housing minister Michael Sukkar is fighting to retain the seat of Deakin that he holds by a razor thin margin of zero point 19 per cent.

No teal independent ran in Deakin at the 2022 election when 41.51 per cent of first preference votes went to the Liberals, 32.76 per cent to the ALP and 13.87 to the Greens.

This election Mr Sukkar, a former cabinet minister, will face off with Labor candidate Matt Gregg, Climate 200 backed candidate Jess Ness and Greens’ Amy Mills.

Teal MPs at a meeting at Parliament House in Canberra.

Labor MPs battling to keep their seats include Fiona Phillips in Gilmore, held by a razor thin margin of zero point 17 per cent, on the NSW south coast.

Ms Phillips faces a three-horse race against Coalition candidate Andrew Constance, formerly a state MP, and teal independent Kate Dezarnaulds, a high profile community leader.

Climate 200 executive director Byron Fay said funding was driven by demand and only credible campaigns were supported.

“It’s telling that so many communities in Coalition held seats are looking for new leadership,” he said.

Climate 200 backed candidates unseated seven Coalition MPs and helped Labor seize the lodge from Morrison Coalition government at the 2022 election.

This includes Allegra Spender in Wentworth, Kylea Tink in North Sydney, Dr Sophie Scamps in Mackellar, Zoe Daniel in Goldstein, Monique Ryan in Kooyong and Kate Chaney in Curtin.

Former Olympian Zali Steggall retained Warringah with a margin of 10.96 per cent at the last election.

Originally published as Election 2025: Climate 200 runs most candidates in Coalition seats, none in Greens seats