Teals ally with ‘radical, extremist Greens

The teals have been accused of siding with the Greens and voting overwhelmingly with Adam Bandt’s MPs since the election despite the left-wing party’s paltry support in former Liberal-held seats.

Kylea Tink, Sophie Scamps and Allegra Spender hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman/NCA NewsWire

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

Teal independents have been accused of siding with “radical, extremist Greens” and voting overwhelmingly with Adam Bandt’s MPs since the 2022 election, despite the left-wing party’s paltry support in the seven former Liberal-held seats.

Parliamentary library research obtained by The Australian reveals the seven teal MPs voted with the Greens between 73 and 81 per cent of the time over 27 months to August 22. The analysis also highlights that across 234 divisions in parliament, teal MPs voted as a bloc 83 per cent of the time when all seven were in the lower house.

On substantive bills, which if passed become law, Zoe Daniel voted with the Greens 81 per cent of times, Sophie Scamps 80 per cent, Monique Ryan 78 per cent, Zali Steggall 76 per cent, Kylea Tink 76 per cent, Allegra Spender 74 per cent and Kate Chaney 73 per cent. Analysis of procedural motions show the seven teal MPs have voted with the Greens between 69 and 77 per cent of the time.

The teals-Greens voting patterns, which include votes where major parties have voted alongside independents and Greens, contrast with 2022 election results highlighting low support for the minor party in teal seats.

The Greens claimed 6.1 per cent of the vote in Dr Scamps’ Sydney seat of Mackellar, 6.3 per cent in Dr Ryan’s Melbourne seat of Kooyong, 7.4 per cent in Ms Steggall’s Warringah, 7.83 per cent in Ms Daniel’s Goldstein, 8.33 per cent in Ms Spender’s Wentworth, 8.55 per cent in Ms Tink’s North Sydney and 10.37 per cent in Ms Chaney’s Curtin.

Senior Coalition figures have in recent weeks ramped up pressure on the teals amid hopes the Liberals can win back Curtin in Perth, Kooyong and Goldstein in Melbourne, and Mackellar in Sydney at the 2025 election.

Opposition manager of business Paul Fletcher, who copped a 15.3 per cent swing against him after teal independent Nicolette Boele claimed 20.9 per cent of the primary vote in his traditionally blue-ribbon Sydney seat of Bradfield, said “after more than two years in parliament, Australians can now be in no doubt about how the teal MPs are voting”.

“Many Australians in electorates held by a teal party MP would be quite surprised to know that their representative has aligned herself so firmly with the radical, extremist Greens political party – who of course are well to the left of even the current Labor government,” Mr Fletcher said.

“For example, on October 16, 2023, Kylea Tink and Sophie Scamps voted to support an attempt by the Greens to have the House of Representatives pass a motion accusing Israel of ‘war crimes’ and an ‘illegal occupation’ of Gaza following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack, which killed 1200 people in Israel.

“The teal MPs should explain to their constituents why they say one thing locally and vote the opposite way in Canberra.”

Ms Spender told The Australian: “I vote on the facts and in the interests of my community.”

“According to the parliamentary record, when the Greens proposed a motion, I supported it 49 per cent of the time; when the Coalition did it was 56 per cent; and when the government did it was 50 per cent,” Ms Spender said.

Ms Steggall said Mr Fletcher should “focus less on party politics and how other MPs are voting, and more on representing his community and improving policy”.

“For example, a majority of Bradfield (52 per cent) voted in favour of the voice referendum, yet Mr Fletcher did not represent their wishes. He has attended only 77 per cent of votes, compared to my 91 per cent this term,” she said.

“On the policy front, Mr Fletcher has moved amendments to just four bills, while I have moved amendments to 20. My community wants me to improve legislation, not just oppose it.”

A spokeswoman for Ms Chaney said the Curtin MP updates her voting record after every parliamentary fortnight on her website.

“The website shows the percentage of times Kate has supported motions led by different parties, which moves around from time to time, depending on the issues being discussed. We think it’s more useful to show this data rather than who else happens to also support a motion,” she said.

In June, The Australian revealed the six teal MPs who won blue-ribbon seats from the Liberals at the last election voted in support of Labor bills during second reading divisions between 71 and 74 per cent across their first two years in parliament. Dr Scamps and Ms Spender supported government legislation 74 per cent of the time, compared to 73 per cent for Ms Chaney, 72 per cent for Ms Daniel and Dr Ryan, and 71 per cent for Ms Tink.