A new centrist party is set to shake up Australian politics as a group of independent MPs, led by Zoe Daniel and Allegra Spender, formally launch the "Community Independents" party.
The move, announced in Canberra today, aims to challenge the dominance of the Liberal-National Coalition and Labor by offering a middle ground focused on integrity, climate action, and cost-of-living relief. The party, which will register with the Australian Electoral Commission, seeks to replicate the success of teal independents who unseated moderate Liberals in 2022. For working families, this could mean a shift in priorities: the party has pledged to tackle wage stagnation, housing affordability, and the rising price of essentials like bread and milk.
But critics question whether a centrist party can deliver real change without major party backing. The launch comes amid growing disillusionment with traditional politics, as union membership declines and regional inequality deepens. If successful, the Community Independents could give ordinary Australians a new voice in Parliament, but only if they can turn grassroots momentum into hard policy wins.
