FAQs
What is the Community Independents movement?
The Community Independents movement is a people-powered political and social movement that is changing the face of Australian politics by putting people, not political parties, at the heart of our democracy. It is values driven and focused beyond the electoral cycle.
The traditional two-party system has failed to deliver effective solutions, leaving millions of Australians disillusioned with politics as usual. In 2022 a third of voters voted for an independent or minor party.
Motivated by a desire for grassroots democracy and genuine community representation, everyday Australians are the driving force behind the Community Independents movement.
What is the Community Independents Project (CIP)?
The Community Independents Project (CIP) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2021 to support and grow Australia’s grassroots Community Independents movement. CIP helps network the movement, connecting people to each other and those with experience in community building and campaigning. It facilitates collaboration and the sharing of skills, knowledge and insights, and provides practical resources and mentoring.
CIP is supported by a generous network of community members and volunteers across the country. It is steered by a highly skilled and experienced team, passionate about the power of community to drive change and create a better Australia. For more information visit our About Us page. If you’d like to support the work of CIP you can donate here.
CIP does not have policies. It operates according to its core values - collaboration, integrity, inclusiveness, truth, transparency, empathy, trust, equality, respect and generosity. It is focused beyond the electoral cycle for the greater good of society, the environment and the economy.
What is a Community Independent (CI)?
A Community Independent is a genuine representative of their community. Selected and endorsed by locals, they are committed to a different way of doing politics through a ‘compact’ with their community. They collaborate with, and empower, their communities, ensuring real political change comes from the ground up. They are not self appointed or single-issue politicians.
The compact Community Independents have with their communities is a two way relationship - MPs work with their communities to get things done and communities work with their MP. Community Independents actively involve their communities in decision-making, for example, through consultation forums and meetings, deliberative democracy initiatives, surveys and community advisory groups. Community Independent MPs seek feedback from their communities and regularly report back to them about their work in Parliament via newsletters, town halls, and social media.
See here for more information about how communities work with Community Independent MPs.
How are Community Independent candidates selected?
Community Independents emerge from a bottom-up process initiated by their community. There is no prescriptive process used by communities to find their candidate. Rather, each electorate charts their own path and agrees on values and behaviours. See here for more guidance on finding and selecting a values-aligned candidate.
How is a Community Independent different from an Independent?
Community Independent candidates are selected and endorsed by their local Community Electorate Group and prioritise community-led decision-making. They are deeply rooted in grassroots community engagement and work through a compact with their electorate. They are not self-selected independents. Nor are they single issue independents.
How are Community Independents funded?
Community Independents are funded through grassroots donations and community fundraising. Some are also able to raise funds from larger donors and fundraising organisations such as Climate 200, the Regional Voices Fund and the Vida Fund.
How can Community Independent MPs achieve anything if they are not part of a party?
Community Independents are free from the constraints of a traditional party, and vote based on their community’s values – as opposed to how a party instructs them. Without party constraints, they negotiate directly on issues that matter, to help create better policy.
For example, we would not have a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) were it not for the work of Community Independents, or important climate, economic and social reforms such as legislating Net Zero, tax reform, housing solutions and transparency in political donations.
Recently, Community Independents have ensured Australia’s 43% 2030 emissions reduction target is a floor and not a ceiling, delivered vehicle efficiency standards, and pushed for reforms to HECS indexation to ease the financial burden on students and graduates, as well as fairer policies on superannuation and parental leave. Community Independents are also highly effective advocates for their local communities. See here for the links to all the Community Independent MP websites with their achievements.
Do Community Independent candidates give preferences?
Community Independents encourage voters to make their own individual choice about preferences and do not typically put preference recommendations on their How to Vote flyers.
What is a Teal?
The term ‘Teal’ is a media-created description often used to describe the group of Community Independent MPs who were elected in 2022. Teal was their primary campaign colour (with the exception of North Sydney’s pink and Mackellar’s pale blue) and they had a common focus on climate action and integrity. The colour teal was first used by Community Independent Zali Steggall in Warringah in 2019. However, a wide range of colours are actually used by Community Independents including orange, yellow, pink, maroon and blue.
The preferred term is Community Independent which reflects their grassroots, community-driven approach and focus on the issues that matter to their community.
What is a Community Electorate Group?
Often called a ‘Voices of’ group, they are local, independent electorate groups growing out of the unique needs of their community. While there is no one recipe for a Community Electorate Group, all are focused on better representation that puts community at the centre.
A ‘Voices of’ type group typically undertakes a community listening process (eg Kitchen Table Conversations) to find out the issues and values of the community. It is often a precursor to the community starting the journey of identifying and endorsing a Community Independent candidate. If a ‘Voices of’ type group decides to select a Community Independent candidate, another entity may be established to run the election campaign.
How do Community Electorate Groups start and operate?
Community Electorate Groups are formed and coordinated by active community leaders. Most electorate groups work on the ‘smell of an oily rag’ thanks to dedicated teams of committed volunteers with diverse backgrounds, expertise and skills. Many have never been involved in Federal politics before. Other ‘Voices of’ type groups give them guidance and assistance. The Community Independents movement is built on generosity and established groups are more than willing to share their knowledge and experience. See here for how to start a Community Electorate Group.
How is CIP different from Climate 200?
CIP is a not-for-profit organisation focused on community building and supporting the ongoing growth of grassroots democracy beyond the electoral cycle. CIP does not provide funds to community groups or candidates and does not campaign.
Climate 200 is a community crowd-funded initiative that financially supports political candidates committed to a science based response to the climate crisis, restoring integrity to politics and advancing respect and safety for women.
The two organisations are entirely separate, with separate structures and missions.
How can I support the work of CIP?
You can support CIP by volunteering, donating, or spreading the word about the Community Independents movement. Every contribution helps empower communities to stand up and achieve genuine community representation.
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