Australian conservative party faces teal independent threat
ABC News
Sydney businesswoman Allegra Spender has an impeccable pedigree for a career in Australian politics
CANBERRA, Australia -- The daughter of a conservative federal lawmaker and granddaughter of a conservative cabinet minister, Sydney businessperson Allegra Spender has an impeccable pedigree for a career in Australian politics.
More surprising than her decision to run for office, she has chosen to become a high-profile candidate of a breakaway political grouping, which has emerged as a major threat to the ruling conservative Liberal Party ahead of elections Saturday.
Spender is known as a “teal independent,” a greener shade than the Liberal Party’s traditional blue color. The 22 teal independents’ mission is to lure moderate voters concerned by government inaction on climate change away from Liberal candidates in seats long regarded as conservative strongholds.
The conservatives brand them “fake” independents because they are partially funded by Climate 200, a campaign war chest founded by wealthy former Liberal Party donor Simon Holmes à Court.
