New party is born, Abbott says, as go-it-alone candidates join forces

Former PM says new ad campaign for independents marks the creation of a new party | WATCH

Candidates featuring in the Independents Day campaign.

Tony Abbott claims the teaming up of Zali Steggall with 14 other ­independent candidates for a joint ad campaign promising to “work together co-operatively” if they are elected marks the creation of a new climate change party.

The former prime minister, who faces a threat from Ms Steg­gall in his Sydney seat of Warringah, said yesterday the ad now airing on social media and YouTube exposed participating can­did­ates as an anti-Liberal alli­ance, and not true independents.

“If they band together to promote their cause, they’ve effect­ively created a new political party,” Mr Abbott said. “It’s a climate change party — it’s essentially a small-‘g’ green party. But because in seats like these the Greens would not get elected, they’re pretending to be something else in the hope of removing Coalition members­ of parliament.”

With some polls showing Mr Abbott could struggle to win Warringah, the seat he has held for 25 years, his pitch to locals in the final stages of the election campaign is focused on warning that a vote for Ms Steggall, a barrister and former Olympic skier, is a vote for a Labor government if the election is close.

“It’s absolutely crystal clear in this electorate: vote Steggall, get Shorten. And around the country: vote independent, get Labor,” he said. “All of their protestations to the contrary are bunkum, abso­lutely bollocks, and the fact that GetUp is supporting nearly all of them, I think, further demonstrates the point.”

Fifteen independents — including­ Ms Steggall, Kerryn Phelps in Wentworth, Rob Oakeshott in Cowper, Andrew Wilkie in Clark, Rebekha Sharkie in Mayo and former Liberal Julia Banks in Flinders — have teamed up.

Mr Wilkie says in the ad: “I want action on climate change.” His words are then repeated by all the candidates, filmed separately but speaking in unison.

Dr Phelps, who won the seat formerly held by Malcolm Turnbull at a by-election in October, says: “We’ll co-operate and share resources when we can.”

NSW Senate independent candidate Rod Bower says: “We ­believe in collaborating and ­working together in the interests of Australia.” Ms Steggall tells voter­s that “the time of political parties is moving on”, while Ms Banks, speaking for the group, insists “we are not a political party”.

The ad campaign, called Independents Day, was co-ordinated and authorised by former Fairfax political journalist Margo Kingston, who now runs the website No Fibs. An accompanying website profiles all 15 candidates and includes­ their how-to-vote cards and links to individual pages.

Ms Kingston said the campaign exclusively highlighted candidates who supported strong action on climate change.

Two independents with strong connections to the Turnbull family are featured in the video. Alice Thompson, a former adviser to Mr Turnbull, is running against Liberal Jason Falinski in Mackellar. Anthony Pesec, running­ as an ACT Senate candid­ate, is a renewable energy investor and friend of Mr Turnbull’s son, Alex.

Oliver Yates in Kooyong, Kevin Mack in Farrer, Huw Kingston in Hume, Ray Kingston in Mallee, Adam Blakester in New England and Jeremy Miller in Lyne are also involved.

Centre Alliance MP Ms Shar­kie is also featured prominently, despite­ not being an independent. Ms Sharkie has removed all reference to the Centre Alliance from her campaign material, website and social media. She now ­refers to herself as the “federal member for Mayo” but still uses the party’s orang­e colour scheme.

At least five independents in the video — Dr Phelps, Ms Banks, Ms Steggall, Mr Yates and Mr Pesec — are being advised by Damien Hodgkinson, the former director of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras who was also a backroom Phelps campaign helper last year. The Australian Electoral Commission said that as long as the campaign material was correctly authorised, it would not break any rules.

Ms Steggall yesterday disputed Mr Abbott’s claim about a new climate­ change party. “Mr Abbott’s comments further highlight how out of touch he is with the real concerns of many Australians about global warming,” she said.

“Everyone is aware of his frequent­ changes of position on climate change. Unlike Mr Abbott, independents around Australia are committed to real action and protecting the future of our children and the next generation.”

Mr Abbott said the group was “plainly targeting Liberal members­ of parliament” and wanted to see “Labor-Green governme­nts”. Mr Wilkie and Mr Oakeshott had “form” in supporting the Gillard government.