The Daily Telegraph - Greens the 'true colours' of Teals

The federal Opposition says the Teals’ “true colours have been shown” by new analysis of voting patterns which reveals the independent MPs overwhelmingly sided with the Greens during the last term of parliament. 

The data, obtained by the Coalition from the Parliamentary Library, shows Kooyong MP Monique Ryan voted 77 per cent of the time with the Greens across all divisions, while on 86 per cent of occasions she sided with them on detailed amendments to bills.

Warringah MP Zali Steggall voted with the Greens on procedural motions 75 per cent of the time, while Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel and Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps voted with the Greens on 81 per cent of bills that were agreed to. 

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink, whose seat will be abolished at the next election, sided with the Greens on 94 per cent of amendments. 

Liberal Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher, whose own seat is being targeted by Teal independent Nicolette Boele at next year’s election, claimed the voting patterns showed the Teals were aligned with the Greens. 

“Before the last election, nobody had heard of the Teal candidates, allowing them to present themselves as ‘Liberallite’, attracting many former Liberal voters who were disenchanted after the tough years of Covid,” Mr Fletcher said. 

“But over the course of two and-a-half years they have shown their true colours by consistently voting with the extreme Greens.” 

Specific bills Teal MPs voted on alongside the Greens included an amendment to the Climate Change Bill 2022, which would have created a target of a 75 per cent cut to emissions by 2035. 

Ms Ryan, Ms Daniel, Dr Scamps and Ms Tink also voted for native logging to be halted as part of a Greens’ amendment to the Nature Positive bill. 

The Teal MPs, who are backed by the financial heft of Simon Holmes A Court’s Climate 200 movement, hit back at Mr Fletcher’s claims, insisting they voted as independent MPs and did not caucus with the Greens outside of crossbench meetings. 

“On 100 per cent of occasions I have voted in a way that is consistent with my community’s expectations and ambitions,” Ms Tink said. 

“Importantly I’ve voted significantly more frequently than the Member for Bradfield who, despite being the Opposition Manager for the House, hardly ever attends a vote.” 

Ms Steggall said: “My real voting record is clear on my website. I encourage anyone to check it out, rather than pay attention to Peter Dutton’s usual fear and smear.” 

Dr Scamps said: “The one voting statistic the people of Mackellar need to know is that over the last 12 months, Peter Dutton’s Liberals have voted 99 per cent of the time with Pauline Hanson in the Senate. 

“Being a community independent, I am able to genuinely represent the people of Mackellar … voting in line with their views and values rather than being forced to toe a party line.” 

Ms Ryan and Ms Daniel were contacted for comment.