Community Newsletter

25 June 2026

Good afternoon,

If you saw the news today, you’ll know that I, along with Wentworth MP Allegra Spender, have announced the formation of a new party called Community Strong Australia. It’s a move designed to challenge the two-party system and give more communities a real say in Australia's future.

I wanted to email you directly to explain what this means, why now, and what it means for Warringah.

Why now?

Australians are frustrated with the state of politics. You’ve told me you want to see governments genuinely committed to building prosperity and opportunity. You want greater transparency from government, and you want practical solutions to Australia’s big challenges: climate change, housing affordability, cost of living, childcare, education, healthcare and social division.

Together, we've shown that politics can be done differently. When communities come together around shared values, practical solutions and genuine engagement, we can achieve meaningful change.

The community independent movement has demonstrated the power of giving local communities a stronger voice in our democracy. Community Strong Australia is about building on that success - creating opportunities for more Australians to participate and ensuring community-led, evidence-based solutions have a greater impact across the country.

And of course, Australia’s political landscape is changing. New donation laws and the structural advantages of the major parties have made it increasingly difficult for grassroots campaigns to compete. Establishing a party structure allows us to meet those challenges and level the playing field, while preserving the integrity, independence and community-driven approach that define our movement.

This is not a traditional party:

• MPs vote freely on every issue except confidence and supply. That is written into the Constitution.

• Party membership is not required to be part of this movement.

• Community will remain at the core of policy development, alongside advice from experts.

This movement started with the community, and that is where it will stay.

This is about combining everything that makes independent politics strong, with additional tools and reach. For example, a party structure is required to run in the Senate, so we can now potentially double Warringah’s impact by supporting candidates in both houses.

Most importantly, Community Strong Australia will allow us to support more Australians who want a genuine voice in shaping our nation’s future.

An application has been lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission to register Community Strong Australia as a political party. This process should be complete by the end of October.

Today marks the beginning of our 100-day period of consultation. We have already listened to your feedback and that has helped shape the Constitution provided to the AEC. But this is just the beginning.

I am incredibly grateful for your support and everything you have done to help build this movement. Now we’re inviting you to help shape this next chapter.

For more information about the party and to read the constitution, please visit our website by clicking the link below and select "Join Us" to stay up to date.

If you have any feedback, please submit the form on the website or feel free to email me at [email protected].

If you'd like to learn more about today's announcement, click the links below:

• Read the article in the Sydney Morning Herald

• Listen to my interview on ABC Radio National

• Watch my press conference

Thank you for being part of this exciting journey – we wouldn’t be where we are without you.

Warm regards,
Zali