‘I’m never going to claim a moral high ground’: teals discuss transparency in politics

Parliament’s crossbench, the largest in recent history, was elected on promises of transparency, morality and doing things differently. The 16 MPs — 10 of whom are new to Parliament — stress their independence from one another but are united on issues such as climate action and the establishment of a federal integrity commission.

Their new role is a difficult one. Despite parliamentary training to get them across procedures, they’ve faced an uphill battle, from culture shock at the way fellow politicians speak and interact with one another, the lack of a code of conduct for parliamentarians, having their staffing levels slashed, and issues with getting questions asked and answered during question time.

“There’s no place anywhere else in this country that you would be in a meeting and have people yelling at each other across the front of you while you’re trying to talk,” North Sydney member Kylea Tink told Crikey. “It’s a really intense environment.” 

The crossbench has also faced questions on transparency. Tink was questioned over her shareholdings in two fossil fuel companies, Viva Energy and Beach Petroleum; Mackellar’s Dr Sophie Scamps over assets in a family trust; and in February Warringa member Zali Steggall admitted $100,000 in donations from a coal investor was incorrectly recorded (which has since been corrected).

The level of scrutiny and attention that came with the controversy was a bit of a shock for Tink. “I wasn’t prepared for the complete loss of anonymity when I came into this role,” she told Crikey. Around $6000 of shares, she added, were purchased in April — before she entered the political race. Since the investments were revealed, Tink has claimed she was planning to use them to attend annual general meetings as a shareholder activist. The shares have since been divested, she said, with the small profits donated to climate advocacy group Market Forces. 

“I’m just a person and I am going to do things that will disappoint people,” she said. “One of the things I think is missing in our political environment generally in Australia is the capacity for us to grow … From my perspective, I’ve undertaken to be transparent.” 

“I’m never going to claim a moral high [ground].”

Tink says she’s grateful to be in Parliament and finds the work rewarding, but “you do feel like you have to constantly be on your toes”. 

For Scamps, it wasn’t just being in the public eye that came as a surprise — with people approaching her to say hello while she’s in her ugg boots at the supermarket — but dealing with the media. She was questioned on Sky News this week about her family trust and was accused of having to be pressed for details. 

“I was ready for [my financials to be scrutinised] and I knew I would be a target for all sorts of things,” she said, adding that she believes she’s been transparent on her financial disclosures.

“The thing that I find shocking is that you’re invited to an interview on a particular subject, but there’s often a ‘gotcha’ … but it’s part and parcel [of politics],” she said.

Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender has also been questioned over a $280 million payment made to a company she is a director on, Waeriver Pty Ltd. Tax records showed the company didn’t pay tax on the 2019 payment, though Spender has said the one-off dividend payment had already been taxed at the full corporate rate of 30%.

“I’ve only had support from people in my community,” Spender told Crikey. “People have put us in place to stand for their community and stand on issues that are really important, and I think people see through it.”

She said that while there had been plenty of collaboration with both the opposition and government, with parties giving detailed briefings on upcoming bills, she said question time needed major reform.

“It feels so often like a political football match or tennis match, rather than a real discussion of the most important priorities.”

Neither Scamps, Tink, Spender nor Zali Steggall believed news about the independents’ financials undermined the integrity of the crossbench.

“We’re all independent … and at the end of the day, everyone has to make those [financial] decisions. We’re not all going to take the same stance on issues,” Steggall said. On Tink’s shareholder activism, she said such advocacy was appropriate to “move the dial from all corners”.

New parliamentary members are scheduled for another session of Parliament school on Friday.

Do the schoolyard antics of question time need reform? Let us know by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.