So, where are your 'teal' independent votes really going?

In the last federal election, a new political force stormed into Parliament — women in brightly coloured jackets who were backed by grassroots campaigns, had climate action and integrity at the core of their policies, and called themselves independents. The media dubbed them "teal".

But what actually is a teal independent? How do they work without a party? And the big question: if you vote for one, where do your preferences go? Do they help Labor win? Or the Liberals?

Here's everything you need to know before you head to the ballot box.

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The teal shift.

What do you get when you mix the Liberals' blue with the Greens'... green? You guessed it: teal.

They earned the name because they tend to represent voters who are economically conservative, think responsible budgets and lower taxes, but who also want urgent action on climate change and more integrity in politics.

At the last federal election, something historic happened. Australians shifted away from the two major parties in droves, especially in safe Liberal seats. Instead, they backed independents, many of them women, who ran community-focused campaigns with climate policy front and centre.

You might already know some of their names. Zali Steggall snatched the seat of Warringah from former PM Tony Abbott, who held it for 25 years. Dr Monique Ryan flipped Kooyong, a long-time Liberal stronghold once held by Josh Frydenberg.

Kate Chaney, Allegra Spender, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Kylea Tink also took Australia by surprise when they won or held formerly blue seats in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

This election will reveal if the teal wave was a one-off — sparked by disillusionment with Scott Morrison, political integrity scandals and climate inaction — or the start of something bigger.

Teal independents Allegra Spender, Sophie Scamps, Zali Steggall, Kylea Tink, Zoe Daniel, Kate Chaney and Monique Ryan. Image: AAP.

What is an independent? And how do they influence Australian politics?

Independents don't belong to a party. In parliament, they sit on the crossbench — the section of parliament for independents and minor party MPs who aren't part of the government or opposition.

Just like party-affiliated MPs, independents represent the people in their electorate. They speak in parliament, propose ideas, vote on bills and help shape national conversations. But they do it without a party line to follow, meaning they can vote entirely based on what they believe is best for their community.

That's where things get interesting.

Because they're not bound by party discipline, independents can vote differently from one issue to the next. Sometimes they'll support a government bill. Other times, they'll side with the opposition. It all depends on the policy and what their constituents want.

They also have a powerful role when it comes to the balance of power.

Right now, the Albanese Labor government holds a majority in the House of Representatives, which means they don't need the support of the teal independents to pass legislation. But that doesn't mean the teals don't have an influence.

Even without formal power, they've managed to shape debates, pressure ministers and hold the government to account — particularly on climate, integrity, and women's safety.

And they could play a very important role in this election.

This election will reveal if the teal wave was a one-off or the start of something bigger. Image: AAP.

To win government, a party (or a coalition of parties) must win at least 76 seats in the House of Representatives — that's a clear majority (50 per cent + 1). But in 2025, there's a real possibility that neither major party reaches that magic number.

If no party holds a majority, a government can still be formed — but only with the support of independents or minor parties.

They don't join the government, but they agree to support the government's budget and support it in a no-confidence vote.

It's called a minority government, and it means independents can negotiate for the policies and priorities their communities care most about.

The same goes in the Senate. If the government doesn't have the numbers, independents and minor parties often hold the deciding votes on whether a bill passes or fails.

Outside of voting, independents often serve on committees (which scrutinise legislation and government decisions), and they tend to have a laser focus on their electorates.

Many of the so-called "teal" independents were supported by Climate 200, a fundraising initiative that backs candidates committed to climate action, political integrity and gender equality. But they're still independent — they don't answer to a party or to Climate 200.

Many pride themselves on being directly accountable to the people who voted them in — not a party room.

Here's how your preferences actually work.

So, you want to vote for an independent, but you're worried you're really just helping Labor or the Liberals.

The short answer is, no. Your vote doesn't automatically go to either major party. That's not how preferences work.

Here's what actually happens.

When you vote in a federal election, you're asked to number every candidate on the ballot in order of your preference — 1 for your favourite, 2 for your second choice, and so on.

If your first-choice candidate (say, an independent) doesn't get enough votes to stay in the race, your vote isn't wasted. It moves to your next preference. This is called preference distribution, and it's how Australia's preferential voting system works.

That means: you decide where your preferences go, not the candidate.

Some independents will hand out "how to vote" cards suggesting how you might number your preferences. But you're under no obligation to follow them. You can number every box however you want.

And yes, plenty of independents get elected without ever needing to pass their preferences on, because they get enough first-preference votes to win outright.

So don't worry: voting for an independent isn't secretly a vote for Labor, or the Liberals, or anyone else.

It's a vote for your first choice — and your preferences are entirely up to you.

Feature image: Mamamia via Getty, AAP.