Polling trends show there is every chance no party will have an outright majority in the next parliament, giving independents and minor parties the opportunity to negotiate with a minority government for their support.
There were 13 independents in the outgoing parliament, plus Rebekha Sharkie of the Centre Alliance and Bob Katter of Katter’s Australian party. That number includes three Coalition MPs who left either the Liberal or National party during the parliament to sit as independents. One independent – Kylea Tink – is not standing at this election since her seat of North Sydney was abolished.
So in the event of a hung parliament, which major party are the crossbenchers more likely to side with (in the event they are re-elected) and what would they ask for? Here is what they say about their priorities if no party emerges as the clear victor after 3 May.
Bob Katter (Kennedy, Queensland), Andrew Gee (Calare, New South Wales) and Russell Broadbent (Monash, Victoria) did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
Kate Chaney (Curtin, Western Australia)
The first-time independent Western Australian MP comes from Liberal heritage – her grandfather and uncle are former Liberal ministers – but the Climate 200-backed teal says she would not limit her ability to vote independently if re-elected.
Chaney says if her support was needed for confidence and supply, her focus would be on the economy, climate and housing.
“If either party ends up in minority government, they’ll have to work with a parliament that holds them to account in the public interest,” the Curtin MP says.
“The two-party system has seriously let us down. A balanced parliament means tougher scrutiny, smarter decisions and a government that works for all of us – not just the party in charge.”
Zoe Daniel (Goldstein, Victoria)
In a similar vein to her teal colleagues, Daniel says she won’t be signing any formal agreement if she is re-elected. The former ABC journalist says she will scrutinise “every issue with the same rigour and attention to detail that I always have done”.
Her priorities are broad, but include tax reform and a total ban on gambling ads.
Daniel also adds universal, affordable early childhood education, a consistent climate and energy transition plan and a long-term housing policy involving all levels of government.
Ian Goodenough (Moore, WA)
The former Liberal turned independent says he would support the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament, “consistent with my political philosophy and values”.
But Goodenough says he would not give his former colleagues a blank cheque.
“My support would be conditional on all electorate funding commitments made by the Liberals in Moore being honoured and a list of my infrastructure priorities being funded – such as $225m for the Reid Highway project, $10m for the Heathridge Park clubroom redevelopment, and $2m for Sorrento and Mullaloo Surf Lifesaving Club refurbishments,” he says.
Helen Haines (Indi, Victoria)
The second consecutive independent to take the seat of Indi, following Cathy McGowan, Haines says she “will never be controlled by a major party” and will continue to make decisions with a “level head and ethical approach”.
At the top of her list is rural and regional healthcare, followed by affordable housing, integrity in government and action on climate change.
“I understand people may feel nervous about the prospect of a minority government, but there are examples of minority or Coalition governments across Australia and the world we can look to,” Haines says.
“It is in the best interests of Australia more broadly, and the people I represent, to have stable government, and I would work to be a force for stability, for good governance and good legislation.”
Dai Le (Fowler, NSW)
Le has previously been tied to the Liberals but says she would assess each offer in the interests of her community in western Sydney.
Le says she doesn’t do “non-negotiables” but her highest priority is the cost of living.
“Fowler needs more done to encourage bulk-billing GPs to set up clinics in our area, we need an MRI at Fairfield hospital, we need more support for our Cald [culturally and linguistically diverse] community, including a health centre,” she said.
Le also says the tax-free threshold should be increased in response to inflation, and wants the metro line to be extended to the new Western Sydney airport.
Monique Ryan (Kooyong, Victoria)
In Melbourne’s inner-east, Ryan says she would consider both major parties’ policies in the event her vote was needed for supply and confidence. Like other independents, she is not willing to sign any formal agreement.
Ryan says cost-of-living pressures, house prices, crime and community safety, and the climate crisis are at the top of the list.
“What I am looking for from the major parties is well-developed, mature, coherent policies, with sufficient detail that my electorate can feel confident in their ability to address those issues,” Ryan says.
Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, NSW)
Scamps gives little detail on who she would support, saying only that she would “vote according to the views and values of my electorate on every piece of legislation”.
Allegra Spender (Wentworth, NSW)
Spender has a good chance of being re-elected and is optimistic about the prospect of a minority parliament.
The MP is the only teal singled out by Peter Dutton as a potential vote for the Coalition, but she names ambitious goals as her priorities.
She says young people have been let down by the major parties and the next parliament needs to deliver long-term economic reform and boost business productivity.
“A balanced parliament following this election presents an opportunity to break the deadlock on areas like tax, housing and environmental law reform,” she says.
“We need to focus on the policy, not get distracted by culture wars.”
Zali Steggall (Warringah, NSW)
If re-elected, it will be Steggall’s third term in parliament and she says she would be looking for a party she “can trust to act in good faith and ensure stability”.
Steggall, who beat former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019, said she would look at the overall numbers to determine whether voters have “clearly rejected one party over the other”. Climate action and cost of living are her main priorities.
“This is not a US-style presidential election, so I’ll look beyond the party leader to also assess the strength of each side’s team – and their capacity … to deliver sound policy for the Australian people,” she says.
Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Tasmania)
As a veteran independent MP, Wilkie says he would not do any formal deal, but would aim to handle legislation on its merits.
The Tasmanian MP has a long memory. Wilkie says his experience during the Gillard minority government from 2010 to 2013 showed a formal deal was “not worth the paper it was written on” and had subtly reduced his “political freedom”.
Wilkie, who was first elected in 2010, says he expects informal and regular negotiation with any potential government if he is re-elected.
He says his priorities will be around social justice and fairness.
“My flagship issues will remain enhancing integrity in both the public and private sectors, addressing climate change, the need for a more independent foreign and security policy, animal welfare, gambling reform and a legal and more humane response to asylum seekers,” he says.
Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, South Australia)
The Centre Alliance member for Mayo says she would happily meet first with the opposition leader, on the grounds that the state seats in her electorate typically elect Liberals.
“I am very upfront in saying that. It doesn’t mean that I will necessarily go with one or the other,” Sharkie told the Australian.
“I would absolutely talk to both sides but it would ultimately depend where the numbers sit and who can form stable government in a minority parliament.”
She told the newspaper regional health and housing supply were her main priorities.
• This article was amended on 1 April 2025. A previous version incorrectly said Kate Chaney’s father was the Liberal minister Fred Chaney. Her uncle and grandfather (both called Fred) were ministers.
• Additional reporting by Dan Jervis-Bardy, Henry Belot and Krishani Dhanji
