Support surge for teals despite vilification campaign
The Liberal Party's shift to a conservative agenda turned off liberal-minded voters, with many angered that the party preferenced One Nation and Trumpet of Patriots, a key independent says.
Saturday's election showed the so-called "teal" community independents are here to stay with teal MPs retaining their seats, largely with more support after making history at the last election.
Independent Zali Steggall, returned in her seat of Warringah, said the Liberals needed to listen and adapt following their crushing election defeat.
"What's missing is they have abandoned concepts of liberalism. Where they are now is a conservative party," she said on the ABC's insiders program on Sunday.
Number two on most of the Liberals' ballot papers was One Nation followed by Trumpet of Patriots, Ms Steggall said.
"I actually had many voters come to me offended, saying they were previously moderate Liberal voters.
"Absolutely no way were they one, voting for Peter Dutton but B, offended at the idea that the second preference went to One Nation."
Ms Steggall said voters in general rejected the adversarial populism pursued by the coalition and the Greens.
She said community independents had faced a campaign of vilification against them.
"We've got to remember the News Ltd media and third-party groups … that were active actors in this election, threw everything at those campaigns to vilify and it was vicious," she said.
"I think more respectful, positive community independents have held their ground or increased. And I think that's what Australians are looking for."
When asked if the teals might form a bloc or even a party to ensure more negotiating clout, Ms Steggall said their current model worked very well, collaborating on issues and co-ordinating in some campaigning.
Ms Steggall and fellow teals Allegra Spender in Wentworth, Sophie Scamps in Mackellar, Monique Ryan in Kooyong and Kate Chaney in Curtin will return to parliament.
Zoe Daniel looked likely to retain her Melbourne seat of Goldstein, despite a swing against her to the Liberals' Tim Wilson.
The teals could also be joined by Nicolette Boele, who is ahead with the majority of votes counted in the former Liberal heartland of Bradfield in Sydney's north.
"Regardless of the outcome, this community has made it clear that we expect our representative to listen to and respond to the concerns of this community," Ms Boele said in a statement.
Independent candidate Jessie Price is also in with a chance in the formerly safe Labor seat of Bean in Canberra, where she claimed a strong swing with more than 80 per cent of the vote counted.
Crossbench stalwarts Andrew Wilkie, Helen Haines, Bob Katter and Rebekha Sharkie retained their seats.
Independent senator David Pocock enjoyed a more than 20 per cent swing to him to take first spot on the ACT Senate ticket and win a quota in his own right.
The senator gave credit to Labor for a campaign that delivered the party a huge majority in the lower house.
"I think there is an opportunity for them to really make some bold changes and change the future of our country," he said.
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