NSW’s five key independents refuse to reveal who they’ll back in hung parliament

The NSW independents – who could be kingmakers in whether Peter Dutton or Anthony Albanese is our next prime minister – are keeping their options open.

The five NSW independents who could decide who Australia’s next Prime Minister is have refused to give up who they’d back in a hung parliament.

NSW’s three teal independents – Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall and Dr Sophie Scamps – as well as Fowler MP Dai Le and Calare MP Andrew Gee all refused to nominate – or rule out – who they’d back if either major party is in a position to form minority government after the election.

Wentworth MP Ms Spender said on Sunday she was “open” to working with both Labor and the Coalition, but she told The Telegraph it would depend on “what the parties are promising to do in government”.

Zali Steggall during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mackellar MP Dr Scamps said it would also come down to “policies not politics”, but said she wanted to see a “serious policy platform” from the Coalition before they’d get her support.

Warringah MP Steggall said a “key issue” will be who she believes can form stable government which would take action on cost-of-living, affordable housing, small business support and climate change.

Independent Fowler MP Dai Le. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mr Gee, who defected from the Nationals due to their opposition to The Voice in 2023, said he would “hear what either party had to say but if … weren’t going to do what’s best for the bush and regional Australia, it would be a pretty short conversation”.

Former veterans affairs minister Andew Gee outside the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Picture: Evan Morgan

“You can be sure that I’m making a list and checking it twice. Who’s going to be naughty or nice remains to be seen,” he said.

Ms Le, who won Fowler from Labor in a shock upset in 2022, said she wasn’t being “presumptuous” and that she still had to win the election, and if she did she’d “speak out strongly for my community’s priorities whoever wins government”.

Originally published as NSW’s five key independents refuse to reveal who they’ll back in hung parliament