The political landscape has changed
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The political landscape has changed


Australians are increasingly disillusioned with party politics. Many feel politicians serve their own interests, donors, and party agendas rather than the people they were elected to represent.
Voting has always been a bargain – you choose the party that best aligns with your values, even if you don’t agree with everything. But what if your party no longer represents you? What if it has changed beyond recognition? In the past, major parties were the only option.


Now, Community Independents offer a practical, growing alternative.
Since 2013, the community independent movement has strengthened, and in 2022, Australians elected seven independents who serve their constituents, not party headquarters. These MPs have proven that electorates can have strong, accountable, and principled representation outside the major parties.

Balanced parliaments work


One of the biggest myths in Australian politics is that a 'hung parliament' is a bad thing. But a more accurate term is a balanced parliament – where no single party holds all the power and MPs are forced to negotiate and collaborate to achieve the best outcomes for the country.
Dr Liz Allen, demographer and author of The Future of Us, emphasises that Australia’s future isn’t guaranteed – it requires planning, strategy, and cooperation. A balanced parliament ensures policies reflect broad public interests rather than narrow party agendas.
History shows that balanced parliaments improve accountability and policy outcomes. The Gillard Government (2010-2013) passed landmark reforms – including the NDIS and carbon pricing – through independent and minor party collaboration. The independent crossbench was crucial again in 2022, improving climate legislation, advocating economic stability, and pushing for fairer wages and conditions.
Rather than fearing a balanced parliament, Australians should embrace it as an opportunity for better governance – where all voices are heard and parties must work together instead of ruling unchecked.



Party politics has left many behind


Both the Liberal and Labor parties have shifted significantly, prioritising power struggles, ideological battles, and corporate donors over traditional voter concerns.
Moderate Liberals have watched their party lurch to the extreme right, prioritising ideological purity over practical governance. The Labor Party has faced its own struggles, balancing union influence and other vested interests with broad electoral appeal. Meanwhile, voters ask: who is actually listening to us?
Ian Macphee AO, a former Fraser Government minister and Liberal MP for Goldstein, recognised this shift years ago:
“The Liberal Party branches are now controlled by the Liberal Party head office, which does not listen to ordinary voters. If genuine Liberal voters can’t influence the branches, they must come together with other voters to support a really good, honest, broad-thinking, visionary candidate to represent them.”
Macphee understood that the party he once served had moved away from the values that defined it. His solution? Supporting independent candidates like Zoe Daniel who genuinely represent their communities.



The rise of Community Independents


Some hesitate to vote independent, fearing independents lack power. But the results from 2022-2025 parliament prove otherwise. The independent crossbench has held government accountable, strengthened climate action, advocated economic stability, and fought for fairer wages and affordable housing amongst other priorities.
Unlike major party politicians, who must answer to party leaders and donors, community independents answer only to their constituents. They prioritise:
· Economic stability and responsible fiscal management – Evidence-based policies that support long-term growth and innovation, rather than entrenching corporate monopolies.
· Personal freedoms and individual rights – Ensuring policies reflect modern Australia’s diversity and complexity, without ideological extremes.
· Climate action and economic opportunity – Recognising that sustainability is a financial and national security imperative, not just an environmental issue.
· Stronger democracy and real representation – Ensuring voters, not party bosses, dictate policy direction.
· Cost of living relief – Advocating for fairer policies on wages, housing affordability, and energy costs to ease the financial burden on households.



It’s OK to change your vote


Switching political allegiances isn’t a betrayal of your values – it’s a recognition that conditions have changed. When your party no longer represents you, staying loyal doesn’t serve you or your community.
Just as people change jobs, sports teams, or clubs when their interests shift, voting for a community independent aligns your vote with your principles. And the best part? No one will think badly of you for it.
In 2022, electorates that had been Liberal strongholds for decades – like Goldstein, Kooyong, and Wentworth – elected community independents committed to representing their communities, not party elites. These MPs have already proven that a vote for an independent is not wasted – it’s an investment in real, accountable leadership.



The conditions have changed – so can your vote


As the 2025 election approaches, the question for voters isn’t just about party loyalty – it’s about what we, the voters, are truly getting in return.
The good news: In 2025, there are now 32 Community Independent candidates, including 7 incumbants, running at the 2025 federal election.
If your party has changed beyond recognition, you have every right to find a new political home. Community independents offer Australians a pathway to responsible governance, fairness, and genuine representation.
And a balanced parliament is not something to fear – it’s something to embrace. It leads to better policies, stronger accountability, and fairer outcomes for all Australians.
The political landscape has shifted. You are not bound to the past.
As the saying goes, “Your prior decision or prior belief was the right one given what you knew then, but now that the underlying facts and conditions have changed, so can the mind.”
The conditions have changed. And so can your vote.

Onward we press.

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Resources

Ian Macphee Articles
Our Democracy is Damaged - only progressive independents can repair it - 4 Dec 2021
We need independents to check ‘Power Hungry’ political parties - 10 Aug 2021

Vote Community Independents
Not shit candidates list


This blogpost was first published on Sue Barrett’s blog and is republished here with permission from the author.