Teal split over calls to rule out doing a deal with the Greens

Teal MPs are divided over calls from two of the nation’s peak Jewish bodies to rule out striking a deal with the Greens in a hung parliament because of their stance on Israel.

Independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spender. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire

Teal MPs are divided over calls from two of the nation’s peak Jewish bodies to rule out striking a deal with the Greens in a hung parliament because of the left-wing party’s stance on Israel, with Monique Ryan saying she would work with the party that “best aligns” with her Kooyong electorate.

While Dr Ryan did not reject the possibility of working with the Greens on supply and confidence deals if the election results in a minority government, Wentworth MP Allegra Spender gave her ­“assurance” she would not engage in such discussions with the minor party.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of Australia wrote to all of the recontesting teal MPs – Zoe Daniel, Kate Chaney, Sophie Scamps, Ms Spender and Dr Ryan – last month urging them not to form a negotiating bloc with the Greens in a hung parliament.

If the major parties fail to win the seats needed to form a ­majority government, they will be forced to look to the crossbench for a guarantee of supply and ­confidence.

The letters, signed by ZFA president Jeremy Leibler and ECAJ president Daniel Aghion, accused the Greens of spreading “outright falsehoods” about the Middle East conflict, including the “monstrous lie” the Australian government was complicit in genocide.

Raising the “deep concerns” of the Jewish community about the prospect of the Greens holding the balance of power after the election, the letters sent on October 8 also criticised the left-wing party for seeking “political gains by exploiting intercommunity tensions”.

Mr Leibler and Mr Aghion also pointed to several incidents where Greens MPs were accused of anti-Semitic speech.

In her response, Ms Spender said she was “disturbed” to see some MPs “seek party advantage” of the Middle East conflict. “Please accept my assurance that I will not be entering into negotiations with the Greens political party on confidence or supply in the event of minority government,” she said, in a letter dated October 22.

She added that fighting anti-Semitism had been one of her “top priorities” and she took pride in working with Jewish organisations to achieve this goal.

Dr Ryan, however, did not rule out working with the Greens in a hung parliament, saying her decisions would be based on the “interests and values of the people of Kooyong, by independent expert advice, and by my conscience”.

“In the event that neither the Labor Party nor the Liberal Party was able to form a majority government following the next election, if I am re-elected I will negotiate supply and confidence with the party that best aligns with the values and interests of my community,” she said.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has rejected criticism that his party was anti-Semitic and stoked social tensions stemming from the ­Israel-Hamas war, saying he would push for environmental and social reforms if left holding the balance of power after the election.

“In the event of a power-­sharing parliament, the Greens will push for no new coal and gas, dental into Medicare, a rent freeze and low-rate mortgages, and cheaper groceries,” he said.

“We’re prepared to work co-­operatively with Labor and the crossbench to make it happen because that’s what voters deserve.”

In May, Mr Bandt signalled he would push for Palestinian recognition as “a price of government” in a hung parliament.

Mr Leibler criticised Dr Ryan for leaving the door open to working with the Greens, accusing the left-wing party of facilitating “anti-Jewish hate” and “knowingly (undermining) social cohesion”.

“Monique Ryan’s refusal to rule out doing any deals with the Greens, a party that the Prime Minister has called ‘appalling’ and the Leader of Opposition has described as ‘evil’, is deeply concerning,” he said. “Many would assume the Greens’ behaviour over the past year would be the antithesis of what Monique Ryan claims to champion – integrity and honesty in politics, inclusion, equality and respect.”

Mr Aghion said Ms Spender’s decision to reject the possibility of striking a deal with the Greens was admirable, pointing to recent election results reflecting waning support for the minor party because of their “vitriol … We welcome (her) categorically ruling out doing any deals with the Greens.”

Dr Scamps said the appeal was “misconceived because in … a hung parliament, it will be up to major parties as to who they choose to form government with”.

Ms Daniel said she would not be “drawn into a conversation about ruling things in or out by anyone at this point”.