How ‘Green’ is your teal MP? (16 Apr 2025)
Article summary: An in-depth analysis by The Australian Financial Review of over 63,000 votes in the 47th Parliament has shed light on the performance of the seven teal independents, including Kate Chaney, and their broader political alignment.
Elected on platforms prioritising climate action, political integrity and gender equality, these MPs—Zali Steggall, Kate Chaney, Zoe Daniel, Monique Ryan, Sophie Scamps, Kylea Tink, and Allegra Spender—have collectively altered the landscape of Australian federal politics, despite each asserting her political independence.
The review found that while critics, especially from the Liberal Party, argue that the teals are merely extensions of the Greens and, by proxy, Labor, the reality is more complex. Teal MPs have positioned themselves to the right of the Greens, aligning closely with them on environmental matters but sitting between Labor and the Liberals on economic issues.
Chaney, in particular, was frequently identified as one of the least aligned teals with the Greens. This was confirmed by independent data showing significant variance in alignment figures, depending on methodology—ranging from 45 per cent to over 70 per cent alignment.
Kate Chaney has often voted differently from her teal colleagues. She and Spender, for example, sided with the Coalition on several economic and policy matters, including Labor’s superannuation tax and legislation relating to social media restrictions for those under 16.
On the latter issue, Chaney said: “I reluctantly concede that this ban for under-16s may be a useful first blunt tool. So, despite my concern ... I will be supporting this bill.” Similarly, Chaney diverged from most of the teals on the issue of live animal exports, opposing a ban that would significantly impact her rural Western Australian electorate.
Despite Liberal accusations—through initiatives like the “Teals Revealed” campaign—that teals vote with the Greens up to 83 per cent of the time, voting analysis from Chaney and others indicates a significantly lower level of alignment, particularly when isolating votes on legislation initiated by the Greens.
These discrepancies highlight the challenges in using voting percentages as political tools, a point echoed by ANU researcher Patrick Leslie, who noted that figures can be manipulated to suit partisan narratives.
Using a spatial alignment model, Leslie’s research placed the teals as a centrist bloc distinct from the Greens, with greater alignment to the Liberals on economic issues. Though often voting in unison—83 per cent of the time—the teals remain divided on key issues such as industrial relations, hate speech, and Middle East policy, with Chaney again often siding with the Coalition when the group split.
Looking ahead to the 2025 election, analysts believe the role of the teals could become more pivotal, particularly if a minority government is formed. Chaney and Spender are seen as potential targets for Coalition collaboration, while Daniel and Ryan align more closely with Labor and the Greens. As Leslie notes, the teals may soon face the challenge of balancing their independence with the demands of a potentially decisive role in government formation.
