<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prominent independent "</span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/teal-independents" rel="" target="_blank" title="Teal"><span>Teal</span></a><span>" MPs have confirmed discussions about forming a possible political party together, but are cagey on how far they have progressed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speculation has been rife that the Teal movement is looking to become a unified political force in the face of voter abandonment of the Coalition.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While much of that vote appears to have swung to One Nation, most MPs identified as Teals have taken former Liberal urban seats.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-may-25-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/d67ef258-4f90-43cb-8ab3-c229d074f404" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Amateurs': Trump's cryptic post could doom peace deal</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking to ABC radio this morning, Warringah MP Zali Steggall said she was "always open" to the idea of forming a party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm in my third term and after seven years in parliament, I can see how there are many things we could do politically better and differently," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She did not say how far any discussions had progressed, but did say they had focused on how the Teals could work in a "collaborative way" to achieve results.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/teal-political-party-mps-confirm-conversations-around-unifying/ffc6110d-a01f-4dab-9741-9ce8a0921e69" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/paraglider-hit-by-plane-mid-air-austria/60172a69-f7df-4c11-8214-a22145cff284" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Video shows paraglider's heart-stopping fall after plane collision</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Steggall said the federal government's "cynical" reform of electoral funding laws, which capped spending and donations, was also a factor in the conversations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are many things that favour major party structures," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wentworth MP Allegra Spender also told the ABC she had spoken to voters on the street who were concerned with what they saw as a collapse of opposition.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>POLITICS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/barnaby-joyce-one-nation-polling-urges-caution-around-surging-numbers/98859352-8e12-4be3-8fdc-b97f66b15237" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Joyce mocks Liberals over new poll</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, she said, any new party would have to break new ground.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't think people want a party like we've seen it with the sort of major parties. I think if any evolution ... wants to be something quite different," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There could be lots of different ways to do this."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Not all the so-called Teals are on board with the idea.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kooyong MP Monique Ryan confirmed this morning she would continue to stand as a community independent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In both 2022 and 2025, I stood as a community independent. That was my commitment to the people of Kooyong," she said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For the past four years, I have worked closely and collaboratively with crossbench colleagues from both the House and the Senate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Representing the people from Kooyong in Canberra has been one of the biggest honours of my life. I will continue to do that in the capacity in which I was elected: as a community independent, voted for and answerable to the people of Kooyong."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Other independents, not necessarily aligned with the Teal movement, including Bob Katter, Helen Haines, Andrew Gee, and Rebekha Sharkie, also ruled themselves out while speaking to reporters in parliament today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Curtin MP Kate Chaney said she continued to represent her electorate as a community independent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our political poles are shifting. The Liberal Party is moving further to the right," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The big issues impacting the lives of everyday Australians no longer fit on the convenient left-right political spectrum."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said she was interested in working "more collaboratively" with fellow crossbenchers, "but right now I do not think that requires me to be a member of a political party".</span></div></div>