Zali Steggall says the dispute that has erupted between herself and other teal MPs on Sydney’s north shore shows the teals are truly independent, not a collective as their critics often claim.

Acknowledging the rift that has developed over the proposed abolition of the seat of North Sydney, held by teal MP Kylea Tink, Ms Steggall, who holds the adjacent seat of Warringah, continued to back Ms Tink’s bid to have the decision reversed.