Allegra Spender

High-profile “teal” independent Allegra Spender is open to negotiate with either Labor or the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament.

“It isn’t appropriate for me to say this is corruption or it isn’t. I am saying, this is the community’s concern.” “I think climate change is one of the most important factors in terms of what is right for the environment but is also a huge economic opportunity for Australia,” she said. “For me, this is what I can do to give a moderate, sensible, centrist government that is looking after the long-term of Australia,” she said.

Independent candidate for the NSW seat of Wentworth Allegra Spender wants to see the next federal government tackle...

"The business community acknowledges that tax is an issue for productivity ... we do need to talk about it," she said. "I support that we increase public migration to 220,000 for the next two years, in line with the Business Council of Australia." It is about what the policies are and where the country is going, she added.

Dozens of independent candidates in this election are demonstrating that women are not passive actors but forces of change in our democracy, writes Yasmin ...

One of the few independent candidates from diverse backgrounds is Dai Le, an Asian-Australian woman who is standing for the seat of Fowler. Le decided to run after Labor MP Kristina Kenneally was parachuted in to the highly multicultural seat. Yasmin Poole is a youth advocate, the Martin Luther King Jr Centre's 2021 Youth Influencer of the Year and Plan International Australia's national ambassador. The final pillar of the independent movement is ensuring integrity in politics. This is a common story for many independent candidates. The number of women running in this election shows that this movement has not fallen away. It is also a problem that the burden of "fixing the men's mess" is falling on women's shoulders. For many Australians, running for politics is out of reach. It is a problem that there is declining trust in our major political parties. The Earth is on track to hit a 1.5C increase in about a decade. Both major parties have made little mention of climate change this election and have been criticised for their funding connections to oil and gas. This time around, a record number of women are standing as independent candidates. Most are calling for action on climate change, gender equality and an end to corruption in politics.

Liberal MP Dave Sharma says rival Allegra Spender is pretending “to be all things to all people” after she was pressed on who she would back in the event of ...

That's the choice this election.— Allegra Spender (@spenderallegra) May 5, 2022 That's how you give the community a say in Parliament again. Stream more election news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place.

Liberal MP Dave Sharma has told voters they risk losing a moderate voice inside the party if he...

The coalition is aiming to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2050. Mr Sharma said Australia was doing well to curb emissions. "If (moderates are) not in the party room, you're not going to get more moderation, you're going to get a party that's more out to the fringes."

Incumbent Liberal member Dave Sharma (left) is facing a strong challenge from Independent Allegra Spender (right) for Wentworth at the election. Photo: Dave ...

She also has policies for building a “smart, sustainable and fiscally responsible economy” and investing in Wentworth’s natural environment. Kanak has been a local Waverley councillor since 1999. These targets have been condemned by climate activists, who criticised the Coalition for not putting in stronger policies consistent with recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Spender has run much of her campaign on climate action, harnessing despondency with the government’s emissions policies to find favour in the electorate. His preference for United Australia Party (UAP) candidate Natalie Dumer on voter’s ballots has also drawn some criticism across the electorate. Spender, who has looked to capitalise on the public animosity to the Morrison government during her campaign, has said that Wentworth is “far ahead of where the government is in terms of climate, both from seeing the economic opportunities for Australia of decarbonisation and how Australia can be an energy superpower”.

Liberal MP Dave Sharma has urged voters to keep moderates like himself in parliament during a community debate...

Climate change was a central issue in the debate, with Mr Sharma admitting his party took a long time to reach consensus but that he hoped the climate wars were over. Mr Sharma faced questions about his how-to-vote cards, which told voters to preference the United Australia Party second. The coalition has ramped up its critique of so-called teal independents, who threaten to snatch away disaffected Liberal voters in the May 21 federal election.