Abstract
Australia’s 47th federal election held on 21 May 2022 saw the return of the Australian Labor Party
led by Anthony Albanese to the government bench for the first time in eight years and eight months,
defeating Scott Morrison’s Liberal-National Coalition government. The scale of the Labor victory looks
unconvincing as it secured only 77 out of 151 House of Representatives seats (after a by-election victory
in April 2023, it now stands at 78). However, the Coalition’s loss was comprehensive. Losing 18 seats
to Labor, Greens and Community Independent candidates, its share of seats and votes were the lowest
since 1943.
Arguably, the most serious damage to the Coalition, especially its senior partner, the Liberal Party,
was inflicted by six women - independent candidates who snatched previously very safe Liberal seats
in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. As those six women, as well as Zali Steggall who had defeated former
Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the 2019 election, are environmentally-conscious while embracing liberal
economic views, the media has dubbed them the “Teals”, a cross between the Greens and the Liberals.
However, the Teals were part of a wider movement of independent candidates. The movement
had its origin in 2013 when Cathy McGowan won the rural Victorian seat of Indi from the Liberal
Party. McGowan has called the movement the Community Independent Project. These candidates are
predominantly women and share common policy interests on climate change, integrity and treatment
of women.
This paper argues that women played significant roles in the election outcome. Treatment of
women was one of the key issues. Women had clear views on the need for climate action and improving
integrity in politics. There was a clear “gender gap” which favoured the Labor party. The rise of the
Community Independent Project, with women up front and centre, resulted in the realignment of the
Australian party system. In that sense the 2022 election was a watershed moment.
