Australia politics live: Zali Steggall confirms teals having ‘conversations’ amid speculation about new political party
Steggall and Allegra Spender confirmed talks about a possible teal party, while the government launched a menopause awareness campaign.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
The live blog centers on speculation that teal independents could formalize as a party, with Zali Steggall saying talks are happening but no decision is made. It also covers the launch of a national menopause campaign and Steggall's criticism of Tony Abbott's Liberal presidency bid.
Some independent politicians in Australia are talking about whether they should work together in a more official way, like joining the same team. They have not decided yet, but they want to be stronger at checking what the government does.
The story also says the government has started a big campaign to teach people about menopause, which is when women’s bodies change later in life. Think of it like a school noticeboard that helps people find the right help instead of guessing alone.
There is also a fight in the Liberal Party, where Zali Steggall says Tony Abbott’s new role shows the party is moving in the wrong direction. The whole live blog shows politics is shifting in a lot of places at once.
Analysis
Teal party speculation
The main political development is the growing speculation that community teal independents could form a party. Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender both confirmed there are conversations happening, but neither offered a launch or any firm commitment. Steggall said the aim is to become more effective in holding government to account, while Spender suggested any evolution would need to be different from the major parties and leave room for disagreement on some issues.
Health minister Mark Butler said he was not surprised by the speculation, describing the wider non-Labor political field as being in flux. He framed the question as one for the independents themselves, while noting they have already made inroads in specific communities.
Other live updates
The live blog also reported the launch of a national menopause and perimenopause awareness campaign. The federal campaign, which will run until the end of the year, is tied to a 2024 Senate inquiry that found many women lacked information about symptoms and treatment options. Women’s minister Katy Gallagher said the campaign is meant to reduce silence and stigma and help women feel supported.
Steggall also used the morning round of interviews to criticise Tony Abbott's impending appointment as Liberal party president. She argued the public wants practical policies rather than culture wars, and said the appointment showed the party had learned nothing. Abbott was the only nominee after Alexander Downer stepped aside for a vice-presidency run.
Key points
- Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender confirmed there are conversations about a possible teal party.
- Steggall said any group would aim to be more effective at holding government to account.
- Mark Butler said the speculation was not surprising given the current flux in non-Labor politics.
- The federal government launched a menopause and perimenopause awareness campaign running through the end of the year.
- Steggall criticized Tony Abbott's impending appointment as Liberal party president.
