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Simon Holmes à Court

This Month

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court.

Holmes a Court warns Liberals over net zero

Nationals threats to abandon net zero will be mercilessly exploited by Climate 200 if the seat of Bradfield goes to a fresh vote.

June

Janet Holmes a Court (right), who was outside the WA Parliament House on behalf of the Friends of Australian Rock Art, and Friends of Australian Rock Art co-convener Judith Hugo.

Environmentalists launch suit to quash North West Shelf approval

A rock art preservation group backed by the Holmes à Court family matriarch has launched a challenge to overturn WA approval of Woodside’s North West Shelf extension.

May

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court.

Climate 200 founder says campaign could attack Labor over NW Shelf

Most Australian universities made a profit 2024; Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court has suggested teal candidates could target Labor-held seats. How the day unfolded.

Independent MPs Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan all back tax reform, including changes to negative gearing.

Let’s drop the charade. Climate 200 clearly targets the Coalition

Teal independents had success in the few Labor seats they contested, but Climate 200’s reticence to target them leaves it with a lack of leverage.

Teal candidates Helen Haines, Jessie Price, Deb Leonard, Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniel and Alex Dyson.

Climate 200 spent big on teals. The best ROI may be a surprise

While big donations went to Deb Leonard and Kate Chaney, analysis shows candidates such as Jessie Price gave the funding group its best bang (vote) for buck in long-shot Labor seats.

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Ellie Smith’s independent campaign in Dickson helped topple opposition leader Peter Dutton.

Nationals driving Liberals to extinction, says Climate 200

The crowdfunding group says the Coalition must act on climate or face political annihilation, after some low-profile candidates it backed made inroads at the election.

Teal donors revealed: Business leaders bankrolling independents

Allegra Spender is proving popular among investment managers, while stock trader Rob Keldoulis is donating to independents across the country.

April

A full-page ad paid for by Better Australia.

Opaque activist group in anti-teal ad blitz to lure shy Libs

An activist group with links to the Coalition and Labor will run the ads with the tagline “You don’t need to tell your friends you didn’t vote Teal”.

Wannon candidates: Independent Alex Dyson and sitting Liberal MP Dan Tehan.

Teal confidence growing as Liberal support slides

Bullish teal campaigners are increasingly confident they can oust senior Liberal Dan Tehan and snag the regional NSW seats of Cowper and Calare at the May 3 election.

‘Headless movements fall’: Can Holmes à Court maintain the rage?

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court changed Australian politics. But has his success become a drag on the community independent movement he champions?

March

Newly elected senator David Pocock has raised concerns about the abolition of the construction watchdog.

David Pocock leaves the Climate 200 mothership

The first-term ACT senator has weaned himself off the political campaign group’s money. Some in the teal and independent movements say that’s not a bad thing.

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court has accused large-scale wind energy companies of arrogance.

Wind farm companies have been ‘arrogant’: Holmes a Court

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court says many large-scale renewables projects had not adequately consulted local communities.

Simon Holmes will say: “I’m not running for office, and the truth is parliament does not need more people like me in it. It needs more locals with real community standing.”

Donation laws ‘tilted towards the major parties’: Holmes à Court

Climate 200 founder and teal benefactor Simon Holmes à Court wants consistent rules on cash for elections.

February

Independent MPs Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan all back tax reform, including changes to negative gearing.

The 12 teal battlegrounds to watch out for this election

Climate 200 is backing 35 community independents this federal election – here are the dozen who are likely to retain or gain a seat in federal parliament.

Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court rejects claims he controls independent MPs elected with the group’s support.

Donations deal strikes at the heart of Climate 200’s business model

Reforms to political donations laws will make it harder for campaign groups to bankroll candidates, but whether the changes can stop the move away from the major parties is yet to be seen.

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Special Minister of State Don Farrell engineered the overhaul, which has been a work in progress since 2022.

Crossbench shut out of political donations overhaul

Teal MPs and the Greens have slammed a deal by the major parties to revamp electoral funding laws.

Kate Chaney is keen to point out she’s an independent.

Three generations of Holmes a Courts are helping Kate Chaney

The family may provide art, campaign financing and unpaid admin assistance to the Perth MP, but the teals are still independent.

January

The biggest financial backers of Climate 200 revealed

Two investors donated about $1 million each to the teal fundraising vehicle, while a 94-year-old grandfather matched donations up to $1000 for each year of his life.

December 2024

Bradfield candidate Nicolette Boele is running for a second time.

Climate 200’s plan for a second teal wave

The nonprofit political campaign group is targeting up to 30 seats at the 2025 election, trying to level the playing field against the major parties.

Independent candidate for McPherson Erchana Murray-Bartlett

Why glitzy Gold Coast is the next teal battleground

Erchana Murray-Bartlett ran the equivalent of 150 marathons in as many days last year. Now she’s running for federal parliament as an independent backed by Climate 200.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/simon-holmes---court-6fkr