Allegra Spender urges Liberals to reflect on loss, return to roots

High profile independent Allegra Spender has revealed the real reason she shunned the Liberal Party after winning the seat of Wentworth.

An independent dubbed Liberal royalty says the party must reflect on its track record with women and the environment.

The party’s performances in both areas have been credited as just two of the reasons Allegra Spender chose to shun the party her father, John Spender, represented.

“One of the greatest frustrations I saw when deciding to stand was the fact the Liberal Party had less than 25 per cent women for the last 25 years,” the Wentworth MP told ABC RN.

“Nothing changes unless you force change. And so, that’s what I think the Liberal Party should be really reflecting on.”

Ms Spender is the daughter of a former Liberal MP. Picture: Julian Andrews

The incoming MP ousted Liberal Dave Sharma to capture the traditionally blue ribbon seat in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Previously held by Liberal leaders Malcolm Turnbull and John Hewson, the electorate was traditionally considered the jewel in the party’s crown.

While Ms Spender refused to say what changes could have swayed her to trade teal for Liberal blue, she called on the party to return to its roots.

“I do think that the lessons of the election for the Liberal Party are saying, ‘What is that smaller liberalism that the Liberal Party was founded on?’” the Wentworth MP said.

“And that is absolutely crucial in terms of social liberalism, economically conservative, focused on business, and at the same time looking into seeing the environmental issues not through an ideological point of view, but from our economic and environmental responsibilities.”

Ms Spender ran on a pro-climate and integrity platform. She told the ABC she is set to meet with new Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to discuss the government’s corruption watchdog.

Ms Spender ousted Mr Sharma from the seat. Picture: Richard Dobson

“He’s reached out to me and we’re setting up a time to get together and go through it. I really appreciate that consultation,” she said.

But she said a federal ICAC would not be a “silver bullet” to fix integrity in politics, signalling political advertising would also be on her list of priorities.

As the nation struggles with soaring gas prices, Ms Spender added her name to the list calling for the government to consider a UK style tax on fossil fuel companies.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday ruled out a windfall profit tax.

But the Wentworth MP said it must be on the table to protect consumers in the short term.

“I think it should be in the gas companies’ interests to sit down with the government and work on this because this is a global crisis and these companies are also making extraordinary profits at this time,” she said.

“I think we should look at every mechanism on the table right now to make sure that we get the supply but also the price that is appropriate.”