Shortly before 9pm on election night, Mackellar’s totally safe and rich Liberal seat on the beaches of northern Sydney fell to a well-known local GP named Sophie Scamps who worked as a freelancer.
The victories of the so-called “independents of the green” would continue to come, and their success in the narrow seats of the coalition has changed a government, surprised major parties and may force nationals into an ugly leadership struggle.
More than 1,000 miles from Dr. Scamps’ victory party was Sandy Bolton, watching the coverage from her home in Noosa.
It’s not psychic, but she saw it coming.
Ms. Bolton removed Noosa’s secure LNP seat from the LNP in 2017, operating as a freelancer with signage and green T-shirts.
She could be described as Australia’s first independent, and is still the only independent Member of Parliament in Queensland.
The so-called independents of the green: Zali Steggall, Kylea Tink and Allegra Spender. (Supplied)
“It was like something I knew years ago,” he said.
“We have to see a different policy and a different parliament, and here we go, at the federal level I think we’re seeing it.”
“Next time it won’t be just blue seats”
In 2020, it fought against major parties, especially the LNP, to not only stay afloat, but increase its support with a 12.5% swing.
He said that in his case, the community wanted someone who could fight for his community, without having to fight with the goals or policies of a larger party.
Noosa was a safe LNP seat when it was won by Sandy Bolton in 2017. (ABC News: Jessica Lamb)
Ms Bolton said that with Australians seeing an option beyond the party’s two big stores, the new independents could change everything for politics and politicians.
“It was a real strategy to give a serious choice to those communities that really wanted to represent the community and their particular goals and objectives,” he said.
“I think you might see more, but not necessarily targeting the particular blue next time [Liberal] seats, there could be some pointing to the red [Labor].
“The path has become clear how you can affect change.”
Defamations of major parties during the campaign are “horrible”
Since her election, Ms Bolton has had to chart her own path working with a Labor government while representing a traditionally Conservative electorate.
Sandy Bolton backed the Queensland Labor government to legalize abortion. (Provided by: Susan Kotzur-Yang)
He voted in favor of the Labor bill on the legalization of abortion in 2018 and assisted voluntary death in 2021, although both were votes of conscience and received some support from the LNP.
Ms Bolton says they should not abstain from voting, but should decide “what it brings … to Noosa”.
This policy put her in the spotlight in 2020, when an LNP candidate campaigned against her for voting with Labor “more than 120 times”.
He did not mention that he had voted with the LNP 104 times in the same period.
Far from diminishing its popularity, its support increased.
“It was horrible,” said Mrs. Bolton, of the campaign against her.
“You can’t run standard discredit campaigns and think you’ll get a different result.
“Our community has had enough of this kind of politics and slander.
“Voters saw it for exactly what it was and rejected it again.”
He said he saw the same tactics being played out nationally in this election.
“Instead of relying on nasty tactics during campaigns and during the term, what you see is a good quality campaign with very committed and very strong candidates.”
Blue blues could survive “if they do a good job”
Former Sunshine Coast University political professor Bron Stevens said the “green effect” in Queensland was on the greens, potentially because people were still flooded by floods in southeast Queensland. .
“I think climate change has taken home with a big bang,” Dr. Stevens said.
“They didn’t feel like the Liberals were taking it seriously.”
But he said that with Labor in power, future independents could try to occupy the seats of the Albanian government if it failed to gain their communities.
“I hope that if Labor fails to deliver on their promises on climate change, they could also face a backlash.”
He notes that Kristina Kenneally lost to independent Dai Le after being parachuted into Fowler’s previously safe Labor seat.
Former Labor senator Kristina Keneally was beaten at Fowler’s safe house. (ABC News: Jason Om)
The question now is whether the new pro-independence party can follow in the footsteps of Ms Bolton, Scamps and others to keep their seats in the next election.
“Once you come in, if you do a good job and continue to consult with this community and act in their interests, you probably have a good chance of keeping your seat,” Dr. Stevens said.
“I don’t know if they’ll all stay.”
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