Piers Akerman: Ignore spin and check the numbers – teals act as Gucci Greens, out of touch with real life

The teals captured the imagination of some voters disillusioned with traditional party politics but their entitled squeals reflect a disconnect between lofty ideals and the realities of life, writes Piers Akerman.

In the final weeks before the election, the streets are again littered with posters bearing deceitful slogans and promises designed to capture the hearts and minds of voters.

Among the more eye-catching is Allegra Spender’s bold declaration on her Wentworth campaign placards: “Your values, your voice”.

Examine the rhetoric and reality of the so-called teal independents, and a different picture emerges – one that raises questions about entitlement, accountability, and authenticity.

Heiress Spender, a prominent figure among the teals, proudly touts her voting record as a reflection of her constituents’ conservative values.

According to her, she has supported 60 per cent of the votes put forward by the Coalition, 50 per cent of those put forward by Labor and 45 per cent of the Greens’ proposals.

Allegra Spender’s self-proclaimed independence from party lines is a badge of honour she constantly brandishes, but a closer examination of parliamentary records tells a different story. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Her self-proclaimed independence from party lines is a badge of honour she constantly brandishes.

However, a closer examination of parliamentary records tells a different story. Spender has actually sided with 66 per cent of the Greens’ proposals, 39 per cent of Labor’s, and 39 per cent of the Liberals’.

When it comes to final votes on legislation, her alignment with Greens and Labor proposals jumps to 70 per cent and 71 per cent, respectively, while support for the Libs’ votes plummets to 27 per cent.

These figures are based on a parliamentary analysis of all 517 votes to February.

The discrepancy between Spender’s claims and reality is not just numbers. While she criticises major party MPs for toeing the party line, her own record suggests a selective interpretation of independence.

It’s a classic case of the Gucci Greens, who appear to be a wholly operated subsidiary of millionaire Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 operation, presenting a chic image that masks a disturbing reality.

The teals don’t mention the 443,395 small businesses which closed in 2024 because of the higher electricity prices caused by their senseless renewables policies.

Teals brag they have forced emissions reductions but don’t mention the 443,395 small businesses which closed in 2024 because of the higher electricity prices caused by their senseless renewables policies, nor do they mention the crippling rises in the cost of living.

With their smooth delivery and progressive promises, teals did capture the imagination of some voters disillusioned with traditional party politics but their entitled squeals reflect a disconnect between lofty ideals and the realities of life.

The only true measure of a candidate’s values lies not in their words, but in their deeds.

It shouldn’t take much to identify what’s authentic even in a political landscape awash in spin, and hold politicians accountable for their promises.

In the end, the teal tango – this dance of entitlement and double standards – serves as a reminder that true representation requires more than just a catchy slogan. It demands integrity, accountability, and a genuine commitment to honesty and transparency.

Allegra Spender and some of the independent teals at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

As women, one might have expected the teals to bring their collective force to bear on a real cause where they might influence change – the appalling rates of domestic and sexual violence perpetrated against Aboriginal women, particularly in the Northern Territory.

As the record demonstrates, a vote for a teal crossbencher is most likely to be a vote for a Green-Labor government.

Rational voters won’t be swayed by the superficial charm of the Gucci Greens and will seek representatives whose party best embodies their principles.

The teals’ slick appeal to naive emotional voters, predominantly female, demeans the intelligence of their supporters.

More seriously, their failure to declare which of the major parties they would support in a hung parliament shows a total lack of the integrity they so vigorously claim.