Would-be kingmakers vow to hold Labor to account in face of weak Coalition

Independent MPs will step up their efforts to hold Labor to account when parliament returns, as a diminished Coalition struggles to regroup after a devastating election defeat.

Dai Le is the federal independent member for the Sydney seat of Fowler. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers/NewsWire

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Independent MPs will step up their efforts to hold Labor to account when parliament returns, as they raise concerns about the ­capacity of a diminished Coalition to operate an effective opposition.

Key crossbenchers had been tipped to become kingmakers if the election had plunged Anthony Albanese into minority government, but instead the independents will be faced with a sea of red in the House of Representatives when sitting resumes on Monday.

After the May 3 election handed Labor a super-majority with 94 seats and reduced the Coalition ranks to just 43 MPs, the crossbench has been preparing to play a bigger role in scrutinising the actions of an emboldened second-term government.

Fowler MP Dai Le, who fended off Labor’s bid to reclaim her southwest Sydney seat, said the role of the crossbench would have a “more important” role to play in a federal parliament consisting of an increased Labor majority and a weaker Coalition.

“I will definitely keep the government accountable for the promises they make to my community – but also ensure the rest of Middle Australia has a voice,” she said. “Hopefully, not just through me, but through the other independents who have been elected as well.”

Ms Le urged the Coalition to come together to form a strong opposition to play the vital role in the nation’s democracy of holding the government of the day to ­account.

“The opposition – no matter how many there are – they have to get together quickly in order to be a strong opposition,” she said.

“Because in a democracy, you need a strong opposition. You can’t let the government – despite their numbers – act as if they are authoritarian and just a one-party system.”

She said she was concerned about Labor using its majority to raise taxes and increase spending.

Indi MP Helen Haines says the crossbench must fill the gap left by the diminished Coalition. Picture: Martin Ollman / NewsWire

The House of Representatives’ longest-serving MP, Bob Katter, said the crossbench was “tenaciously united” on many issues and would act as an opposition more than the weakened Coalition would.

“The frontbench of the opposition, with one exception, is the weakest frontbench I’ve ever seen in 50 years as a member of parliament,” Mr Katter said. “That is not good for Australia, and that means that the crossbenches will really cast a different role here, and they probably will be more the opposition than the Liberal Party.”

Indi MP Helen Haines, who has been returned to parliament for a third time, said the crossbench would play a “critical role” in holding the government to account and scrutinising legislation.

“The crossbench is more important than ever because we have such a diminished Coalition,” she said. “They’re having to put all their energy and effort into trying to come up with a policy platform.

“They’re reviewing every policy. They’re trying to come to grips with the fact that they have so few members sitting in the house.

“They’re trying to come to grips with the appalling state of the representation of women in their party.

“They’ve got so much internal focus that I think their focus on holding the government to account is going to be very challenged.”

Dr Haines said her track record of amending six bills with 13 amendments spoke to the importance of the crossbench in improving legislation.

She said she would continue to advocate for more housing in her regional Victorian electorate, as well as better access to healthcare.

Teal independent Monique Ryan, who defeated Liberal challenger Amelia Hamer’s push to ­reclaim Kooyong, said the crossbench would play a vital role in the 48th parliament, remarking that after the Coalition’s election defeat it did not have policy it was “advocating on proactively”.

“The crossbench is actually more important than ever before,” Dr Ryan said.

“The opposition is in disarray. They’ve still obviously got internal squabbling, every day we see stories about dissent within the LNP.

“I haven’t seen any bold new policy ideas or any values based statements, or any indication that, as yet, they’re really ready to function as an effective opposition.”

Dr Ryan said she would continue to advocate for reforms to student debt when parliament returned, including putting forward an amendment to Labor’s legislation slashing HECS debts by 20 per cent.

Centre Alliance MP and crossbench whip Rebekha Sharkie said it was vital that the crossbench “work collaboratively” with the government.

“Governments and parliaments function at their best when there’s a true contest of ideas and a rigorous holding to account of the government of the day,” she said.

Curtin MP Kate Chaney said despite not holding the balance of power, the crossbench had “successfully amended 20 bills during the term, while the Coalition only amended one”.

“I argued the case for tax reform throughout the last term and now we are about to have an economic roundtable with tax as a central issue,” she said.

Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps said the independents would have a “crucial role” in holding Labor to account by “pushing them to be ambitious on the important issues and bringing fresh ideas to the parliament”.