Federal Election 2022: Teal independents to push Labor PM Anthony Albanese for deeper 2030 carbon cut

‘Teal’ independents have picked up seven seats in parliament, shaking up the crossbench. But who are they, and what will it mean for Prime Minister Albanese?

The stunning surge in support for independents that swept Scott Morrison out of office and turned Sydney’s beaches teal from Palm Beach to Clovelly will put Labor under pressure to increase its carbon reduction target.

Among the independents who mowed down moderate Liberal MPs on Saturday, concerns have also emerged about the nation’s mounting debt, which is set to grow even faster under the ALP.

The incoming wave of teal independents – who now hold seven seats in the parliament – have said Labor’s 2030 emissions reduction target of 43 per cent does not cut it and will need to go much further.

While Anthony Albanese was on Sunday night projected to reach a majority to form government, he could still find himself having to deal with the consequences of the outrageous success of the teal movement, financially backed by Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 group.

If outrageous seems like a strong word, consider this: the number of teals elected on the weekend equals the entire size of the crossbench in the last parliament.

They wasted no time in laying out demands.

Zoe Daniel, who trounced Liberal Tim Wilson to win the Melbourne seat of Goldstein, said: “Certainly the people in this electorate want more ambitious climate targets than I think the Labor Party has. If I’m in a position to exert pressure on that I will be doing so.”

Teal independent Zoe Daniel following her victory. Picture: David Crosling

Ms Daniel, a former ABC journalist, seeks a 60 per cent reduction of carbon emissions by 2030.

Independent Allegra Spender, who put Liberal Dave Sharma to the sword in Sydney’s Wentworth, said the crossbench had a “strong mandate” from the community “around the climate.”

“We know what we stand for and we will stand up. We put our faith in the fact we can act on climate,” Ms Spender, who was a businesswoman and clean energy advocate before running for parliament, said.

Ms Spender described Labor as being “more ambitious” on climate action.

Allegra Spender celebrates with supporters at Bondi Beach. Picture: David Barwell

At 43 per cent, Labor’s 2030 carbon reduction target is 15 percentage points deeper than the Coalition’s 28 per cent.

Monique Ryan, the teal who claimed the most significant scalp on Saturday in that of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in Melbourne’s Kooyong, also said climate change was top of her agenda.

Dr Ryan told ABC Radio she was prepared to talk to Mr Albanese about offering her support for a minority Labor government “if he is prepared to come to the table on ­effective and immediate action on climate change” as well as an anti-corruption commission.

Labor had to have a 2030 carbon reduction target of 60 per cent, she said.

Sophie Scamps, who defeated Liberal Jason Falinski in Sydney’s Mackellar, told The Daily Telegraph she would push for a cut of “at least 50 per cent”.

Most of the Liberals who lost to teals were silent yesterday, but Mr Frydenberg said: “We as a Coalition need to be better at articulating what we have achieved and what we are doing in respect to climate change, because when I have those conversations with people here and across Australia, for many, those facts are not fully known as they should be.

“We need to do our part, but it is very much a global challenge. But as for the issue here in Kooyong, it was very high on people’s agendas,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Sophie Scamps voting at Mona Vale Public School. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile Ms Daniel also expressed concern about government debt. Labor went to the election with cumulative forecast budget deficits $7.4bn larger than the Coalition’s $225bn over four years, due to increased spending on childcare, fee-free Tafe and clean energy.

Ms Daniel said she wanted to have oversight to ensure spending was responsible.

“The national debt is a problem,” she said.

Treasury estimates net debt will reach $86bn by 2025-26.

“We can’t leave our children saddled with that kind of debt,” Ms Daniel said.

Monique Ryan makes her victory speech. Picture: Sam Tabone, Getty Images

Ms Spender described the rise of the teals as “an act of defiance against the status quo”.

Dr Ryan said “I think that there is a momentum for change in the Australian political system.”

“We have a government now that is hopefully going to listen to what the people of Australia want.”

Dr Scamps said: “Our community has sent a strong message that we deserve to have our voices and values represented genuinely and that’s ­exactly what I will do in Canberra.”

Mr Holmes à Court said: “Climate 200 will spend the next few days reflecting on what has been achieved and what might happen next, respecting the wishes of our 11,200 donors from across the country who helped us turbocharge this democracy movement.

“The nation has changed as a ­result and we must make sure this becomes a watershed rather than a moment.”

Meanwhile Barnaby Joyce criticised the teal movement for doing “an exceptional job of decapitating the moderates out of the Liberals”.“I’m hoping they’re happy with their work,” Mr Joyce told The Australian Financial Review on Sunday. “They’ve managed to get rid of three gay guys, one Aboriginal and one Asian. Was that their game plan?”