Teals’ ‘true colours’ are Green, Coalition says after new analysis of voting records

New analysis obtained by the Coalition shows the overwhelming amount of times the Teals have voted with the Greens in parliament.

The Opposition says the Teals’ “true colours have been shown” in new analysis of voting patterns which shows they have overwhelmingly sided with the Greens over the last term of parliament.

The data, obtained by the Coalition from the Parliamentary Library, shows Kooyong MP Monique Ryan voted 77 per cent of the time with the Greens across all divisions, while on 86 per cent of occasions she sided with the Greens on detailed amendments to bills.

Warringah MP Zali Steggall voted with the Greens on procedural motions 75 per cent of the time, while Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel and Mackellar MP Dr Sophie Scamps voted with the Greens on 81 per cent bills that were agreed to.

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink, whose seat will be abolished at the next election, sided with the Greens on 94 per cent of amendments.

Liberal Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher, whose own seat is being targeted by Teal independent Nicolette Boele at next year’s federal election, claimed the voting patterns showed the Teal movement was aligned with the Greens.

Dr Monique Ryan MP during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Before the last election, nobody had heard of the Teal candidates – allowing them to present themselves as Liberal-lite, attracting many former Liberal voters who were disenchanted after the tough years of Covid,” Mr Fletcher said.

“But over the course of two and half years they have shown their true colours by consistently voting with the extreme Greens.”

Specific bills Teal MPs voted on alongside the Greens included an amendment to the Climate Change Bill 2022, which would have created a target of a 75 per cent cut to emissions by 2035.

Ms Ryan, Ms Daniel, Dr Scamps and Ms Tink also voted for native logging to be halted as part of a Greens’ amendment to the Nature Positive bill.

MP Zali Steggall. Picture: John Appleyard

The Teals, who are backed by the financial heft of Simon Holmes A Court’s Climate 200 movement, hit back at the suggestions, said they do not caucus with the Greens outside of crossbench meetings and vote as independents.

“On 100 per cent of occasions I have voted in a way that is consistent with my community’s expectations and ambitions … And importantly I’ve voted significantly more frequently than the Member for Bradfield who, despite being the Opposition Manager for the House, hardly ever attends a vote,” Ms Tink said.

MP Kylea Tink joins other Independent senators at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Steggall said: “My real voting record is clear on my website. I encourage anyone to check it out, rather than pay attention to Peter Dutton’s usual fear and smear. Mr Dutton would do well to focus on his own voting record, since he only attends 40 per cent of divisions.”

Dr Sophie Scamps said “the one voting statistic the people of Mackellar need to know is that over the last 12 months Peter Dutton’s Liberals have voted 99 per cent of the time with Pauline Hanson in the Senate”.

“Being a community independent, I am able to genuinely represent the people of Mackellar, always listening to them and voting in line with their views and values rather than being forced to toe a party line,” she said.

Ms Ryan and Ms Daniel were contacted for comment.

The claims come as the Liberal Party gears up to win back seats in their former strongholds, with Opposition leader Peter Dutton visiting Sydney’s Northern Beaches last week with his party’s candidates for Warringah and Mackellar.

The Liberals are also facing threats in key seats such as Bradfield held by Mr Fletcher, who was hit by a 15 per cent swing against him in 2022.

Originally published as Teals’ ‘true colours’ are Green, Coalition says after new analysis of voting records