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The Big Teal
The May 2022 election marked the great re-engagement of those ignored and patronised for too long on climate, integrity, and gender equity. The electoral map has been dramatically redrawn. However, the triumph of the ‘teals’ was not entirely unexpected to those assisting their rise, such as Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes à Court. As Australia entered its lost decade on climate action, he observed that conventional advocacy had become a case of diminishing returns, and that Cathy McGowan’s election as a community independent in 2013 provided a template for direct political engagement. The result was Climate 200, a crowdfunded outfit intended to provide the money and expertise to better match the major parties and turbocharge the grassroots movement emerging in thirty-plus electorates. This is the story of how a team of inspired young tech-heads and older sages used their real and virtual-world experience to help a cluster of communities get the representation they wanted.
96 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 26, 2022
The changing electoral map…
In May 2022, several ‘teal’ candidates were elected to the Australian Parliament. There was plenty of noise and fury in elements of the media, with many referring to the ‘so-called teal independents’ who, in their minds, could not possibly be ‘independent’ of Simon Holmes à Court.
In this book, Simon Holmes à Court explains how, with inaction on climate issues a driving force, Cathy McGowan’s election as a community independent in 2013 provided a template for direct political engagement. Climate 200 was formed, a crowdfunded outfit (yes, Simon Holmes à Court is one of the donors but definitely not the only donor) intended to provide the money and expertise to better match the major parties in support of the grassroots movement emerging in more than thirty electorates.
Mr Holmes à Court explains why he drew away from the Liberal Party, after Julia Banks (MP for Chisholm 2016-2019) resigned from the Liberal Party and became a crossbencher over the issue of Australia’s treatment of asylum seeker children in detention centres.
‘I saw how an independent, a crossbencher, free from the ideology of government or the cowed Opposition, could speak the truth on offshore detention. I saw how the cross bench could operate as both the conscience and the backbone of parliament.’
The ‘Teals’ are not a political party. Mr Holmes à Court reminds readers of Climate 200’s arms-length approach: that it didn’t choose candidates, only who to support of those already running in the crowded election field. The ‘Teals’ elected to the Australian Parliament have promised to act on integrity, gender equity and the climate crisis. Will they be successful?
I live in the ACT where, for the first time, an independent candidate was elected to the Senate. Seven months after the election, I am quietly impressed with the efforts of Senator David Pocock.
Yes, we have a long way to go to make up for the inaction of previous governments in relation to climate issues. Perhaps it is not too late.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In May 2022, several ‘teal’ candidates were elected to the Australian Parliament. There was plenty of noise and fury in elements of the media, with many referring to the ‘so-called teal independents’ who, in their minds, could not possibly be ‘independent’ of Simon Holmes à Court.
In this book, Simon Holmes à Court explains how, with inaction on climate issues a driving force, Cathy McGowan’s election as a community independent in 2013 provided a template for direct political engagement. Climate 200 was formed, a crowdfunded outfit (yes, Simon Holmes à Court is one of the donors but definitely not the only donor) intended to provide the money and expertise to better match the major parties in support of the grassroots movement emerging in more than thirty electorates.
Mr Holmes à Court explains why he drew away from the Liberal Party, after Julia Banks (MP for Chisholm 2016-2019) resigned from the Liberal Party and became a crossbencher over the issue of Australia’s treatment of asylum seeker children in detention centres.
‘I saw how an independent, a crossbencher, free from the ideology of government or the cowed Opposition, could speak the truth on offshore detention. I saw how the cross bench could operate as both the conscience and the backbone of parliament.’
The ‘Teals’ are not a political party. Mr Holmes à Court reminds readers of Climate 200’s arms-length approach: that it didn’t choose candidates, only who to support of those already running in the crowded election field. The ‘Teals’ elected to the Australian Parliament have promised to act on integrity, gender equity and the climate crisis. Will they be successful?
I live in the ACT where, for the first time, an independent candidate was elected to the Senate. Seven months after the election, I am quietly impressed with the efforts of Senator David Pocock.
Yes, we have a long way to go to make up for the inaction of previous governments in relation to climate issues. Perhaps it is not too late.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 18, 2025
An enjoyable, short read. I liked hearing, directly from the source I suppose, what Climate 200 is, and how the media has made mistakes in portraying it. Keen to keep reading into Australian politics but I much prefer non-news sources, so I suppose books like this and journal articles more suit my interest. All in all, there are so many conversations occurring at uni that I feel like I don't have enough knowledge to contribute to - and reading books like this one feels like a great recourse, a mix of contextual information that I'm lacking and an affirmation of principles that we should come back to in conversations about politics.
November 15, 2022
The Big Teal is a brief account of the strategy behind the rise of the independents in the recent federal election. Clean energy investor Simon Holmes à Court, founder of the crowdfunded Climate 200 community group, relates the epiphany that drew him away from his support for the Liberal Party: it was when Julia Banks (MP for Chisholm 2016-2019) resigned from the Liberal party and became a crossbencher over the issue of Australia's treatment of children in detention centres for asylum seekers.
It is this narrative that independents can be the 'conscience' of parliament that lies in part behind the success of the 'Teal Independents' at the last federal election. (The name comes from the colour of some of their branding, but not all of them use blue-green, and not all of them like the tag.) Their success in winning a record number of seats formerly thought to be 'safe' Liberal heartlands helped to unseat the former government, and it is suggested—not only in this book but also in multiple post-election analyses—that they represent a gloomy future for the Liberals who will find it hard to win those seats back again.
In The Big Teal. Holmes à Court tells the story of his belief that independent MPs could achieve things that elude the major parties. He explains his own activities as a clean energy investor, and his early unsuccessful attempts to groom Josh Frydenberg (the former MP for Kooyong) as a champion within his party on climate change. (He was also Federal Treasurer and touted as a future PM until defeated by Teal independent Monique Ryan). The best part of the book is the incisive analysis of how political funding and donations distort the democratic process, along with a salute to pioneering independents like Cathy McGowan and the revelations about Josh Frydenberg's behind-the-scenes machinations.
In lauding the crossbenchers supporting Climate 200, the book does not mention other crossbenchers, some of whom are problematic and some of whom have been in parliament a long time without achieving their stated policies. It is hard to imagine some of them being the 'conscience' of parliament, or its 'backbone'
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2022/11/12/t...
I saw how an independent, a crossbencher, free from the ideology of government or the cowed Opposition, could speak the truth on offshore detention. I saw how the cross bench could operate as both the conscience and the backbone of parliament. (p. 36)
It is this narrative that independents can be the 'conscience' of parliament that lies in part behind the success of the 'Teal Independents' at the last federal election. (The name comes from the colour of some of their branding, but not all of them use blue-green, and not all of them like the tag.) Their success in winning a record number of seats formerly thought to be 'safe' Liberal heartlands helped to unseat the former government, and it is suggested—not only in this book but also in multiple post-election analyses—that they represent a gloomy future for the Liberals who will find it hard to win those seats back again.
In The Big Teal. Holmes à Court tells the story of his belief that independent MPs could achieve things that elude the major parties. He explains his own activities as a clean energy investor, and his early unsuccessful attempts to groom Josh Frydenberg (the former MP for Kooyong) as a champion within his party on climate change. (He was also Federal Treasurer and touted as a future PM until defeated by Teal independent Monique Ryan). The best part of the book is the incisive analysis of how political funding and donations distort the democratic process, along with a salute to pioneering independents like Cathy McGowan and the revelations about Josh Frydenberg's behind-the-scenes machinations.
In lauding the crossbenchers supporting Climate 200, the book does not mention other crossbenchers, some of whom are problematic and some of whom have been in parliament a long time without achieving their stated policies. It is hard to imagine some of them being the 'conscience' of parliament, or its 'backbone'
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2022/11/12/t...
October 19, 2022
Since I have followed Simon Holmes a Court on Twitter for years, donated to Climate 200 and Monique Ryan’s campaign in Kooyong, and am a passionate participant in #auspol, a lot of what this book contains was familiar to me. Some things, like the attempts of the News Corps media and LNP politicians to smear Holmes a Court and some ‘teal’ candidates with anti-Semitism, I had gratefully forgotten. And there was some new information: apparently one can be inoculated against attacks from Sky After Dark if one attended the incredibly expensive, prestigious, and abusive private school Geelong Grammar; and it was ex-Liberal politician Julia Banks who convinced Climate 200 that the issue of the treatment and safety of women to the existing two priorities of the climate and integrity, for which I think all women should be grateful.
I do wish I had previously known that a single $5000 donation to a minister’s campaign would buy access, though! Imagine what the Uniting Church could have done if we had donated to the campaigns of past Immigration Ministers! Although of course the Church never would.
This is a very encouraging little book about the way in which Climate 200 helped ‘the teals’ to disrupt politics as usual in Australia in 2022. It will be interesting to see whether the Independents elected will retain their seats at the next election, as previous Independents have managed, or whether part of the wave they surfed in on was the truly appalling failings of the Morrison Government. If the Albanese Government is semi-decent, will there be a return to the older, party-based, model?
I do wish I had previously known that a single $5000 donation to a minister’s campaign would buy access, though! Imagine what the Uniting Church could have done if we had donated to the campaigns of past Immigration Ministers! Although of course the Church never would.
This is a very encouraging little book about the way in which Climate 200 helped ‘the teals’ to disrupt politics as usual in Australia in 2022. It will be interesting to see whether the Independents elected will retain their seats at the next election, as previous Independents have managed, or whether part of the wave they surfed in on was the truly appalling failings of the Morrison Government. If the Albanese Government is semi-decent, will there be a return to the older, party-based, model?
March 9, 2023
The Big Teal is a short book with deep insights. It reveals what a watershed moment it was at the 2022 Federal Australian election when seven new independents took their place in the Australian Parliament, shaking up the largely two-party system.
Like many others, I was distressed by the behaviour and values of the Coalition throughout their term and was desperate for change.
Mr Holmes à Court tells the backstory to his involvement with community-based initiatives and his unceremonious exit from the Liberal party. The history of the establishment and growth of Climate 200 was of particular interest. I’ve noted below a few of the observations and recommendations I appreciated during my read through.
About the unbalanced power and funds available to incumbents
‘Australia deserves a root-and-branch review of electioneering that surfaces all of the advantages enjoyed by the parties, incumbents and members of the government. The review needs to identify reforms that make elections fairer rather than further entrenching incumbency.’ Pge 56
Characteristics of the most successful candidates
‘The selection of a great candidate is a key aspect of robust campaign. The candidate doesn’t have to be nationally famous, but they do need to have deep networks throughout the electorate, be smart, a great communicator, telegenic, resilient and free of scandal.’ Later…’most of the potential candidates for a community independent role lie somewhere between reluctant and repulsed when it comes to politics.’
Surprising impact of Coalition’s unequivocal support by NewsCorp
Interested to learn that the media hit jobs on the candidates, often working in their favour. Pge 69.
A front-page and double-page Herald-Sun spread on Monique Ryan resulted in a ‘huge spike in donations, and polling showed that her name recognition had been vastly improved.’
The attack lines weren’t cutting through because people were aware that ‘these professional women had given up high-level careers and were passionate and compassionate. They found claims that the women were put up to it as ‘Labor Stooges’ to be simply not credible.’
In his closing remarks he observed that, ‘the teal movement helped Australia dodge a bullet. We saw the damage done to America and the UK by populist, post-truth leaders, and we got more than a taste of it ourselves. The 2022 election was a clear repudiation of that pathway. This leaves the liberal party in a very uncertain position. So far, it doesn’t seem to have learnt any lessons, with Scott Morrison’s assessment of his loss explained as ‘sometimes people just want to change the curtains’, and his party striking the same pose on climate that cost them at least nine seats – seats that they have to win back if they want to govern again.'
Ten months post-election, the positive impact of these independents is clear. I have my fingers crossed that the two party system has been shaken up forever in Australia and that other great independent candidates will follow the pathway of The Teals.
Like many others, I was distressed by the behaviour and values of the Coalition throughout their term and was desperate for change.
Mr Holmes à Court tells the backstory to his involvement with community-based initiatives and his unceremonious exit from the Liberal party. The history of the establishment and growth of Climate 200 was of particular interest. I’ve noted below a few of the observations and recommendations I appreciated during my read through.
About the unbalanced power and funds available to incumbents
‘Australia deserves a root-and-branch review of electioneering that surfaces all of the advantages enjoyed by the parties, incumbents and members of the government. The review needs to identify reforms that make elections fairer rather than further entrenching incumbency.’ Pge 56
Characteristics of the most successful candidates
‘The selection of a great candidate is a key aspect of robust campaign. The candidate doesn’t have to be nationally famous, but they do need to have deep networks throughout the electorate, be smart, a great communicator, telegenic, resilient and free of scandal.’ Later…’most of the potential candidates for a community independent role lie somewhere between reluctant and repulsed when it comes to politics.’
Surprising impact of Coalition’s unequivocal support by NewsCorp
Interested to learn that the media hit jobs on the candidates, often working in their favour. Pge 69.
A front-page and double-page Herald-Sun spread on Monique Ryan resulted in a ‘huge spike in donations, and polling showed that her name recognition had been vastly improved.’
The attack lines weren’t cutting through because people were aware that ‘these professional women had given up high-level careers and were passionate and compassionate. They found claims that the women were put up to it as ‘Labor Stooges’ to be simply not credible.’
In his closing remarks he observed that, ‘the teal movement helped Australia dodge a bullet. We saw the damage done to America and the UK by populist, post-truth leaders, and we got more than a taste of it ourselves. The 2022 election was a clear repudiation of that pathway. This leaves the liberal party in a very uncertain position. So far, it doesn’t seem to have learnt any lessons, with Scott Morrison’s assessment of his loss explained as ‘sometimes people just want to change the curtains’, and his party striking the same pose on climate that cost them at least nine seats – seats that they have to win back if they want to govern again.'
Ten months post-election, the positive impact of these independents is clear. I have my fingers crossed that the two party system has been shaken up forever in Australia and that other great independent candidates will follow the pathway of The Teals.
December 26, 2022
This is an important book, which dispels many misunderstandings of the "teal" movement. Holmes a Court writes wittily and with understanding about what happened in his Climate 200 backing of community independents in the 2019 and 2022 elections. He describes it has “catching the wave”. The movement was gaining momentum I 2019 but not enough: 2022 was the right time, with the right surfboard and its right riders. He demolishes the myths if the major parties, the Coalition especially, that Climate 22 was really a party and it demanded specific policies from the candidates he funded. Wrong. He funded Climate 200 from donations pointing out that there were no strings attached, unlike the Liberals especially who treated donations transactionally; pay us enough and we’ll do you some good. He funded only candidates who had already been selected by their community, who had a track record of good community service and who had been able to raise $50,000 themselves. They had to value climate change, integrity in politics, and giving women a fair go. How they did this was matter of policy for each of them to work out. He is scathing about Howard, who dismissed half the moderates in the Liberal party leaving it to Abbott and Morrison to dismiss almost all of the rest, leaving the Coalition totally at odds with their electorates. The teals – he’d rather call them “community independents” – swept through as he describes on an electorate by electorate basis. His account of Kooyong is very interesting showing Frydenberg to be a dirty player that worked against him drastically. Four sitting independents were returned, and 7 new independent candidates were elected, fundamentally changing the nature of Parliament. H a C is therefore upbeat about the 2025 election and thereafter. I’m not so sure. He admits that had Morrison been an effective leader and listed to his electorates there wouldn’t have been nearly so many community independents. Much of the result could be attributed to rejection of the mendacious Morrison. So will the teals survive the quite effective leadership of Albanese, or has indeed the structure of our polity fundamentally changed so that the two party system will indeed continue to decline? One hopes.
October 18, 2022
5 ☆
Finished reading ... The Big Teal / Simon Holmes à Court ... 14 October 2022
Series: In the National Interest
ISBN: 9781922633569 … 86 pp. plus Notes
I bought this book following a session at my local Readings bookshop, chaired by Gay Alcorn (editor of The Age) and featuring the author, Simon Holmes à Court, and newly minted independent “teal” MP, Monique Ryan.
This is a valuable volume for anyone interested in politics. They would probably know a lot that's in this essay but would be sure to find something new as well. The rare person who might 'know it all' would find it a handy summary.
The real value in this book is a brief outline of Holmes à Court's background, what got him into action on renewable energy, why he got involved in the pre-existing 'community independents' political movement, and what his role is and is not in what has been dubbed the teal movement.
For anyone who wonders about politics, the future of the country, the honesty and integrity (or otherwise) of journalists, political bias, anyone who wonders where the truth lies in all the information and even more misinformation disseminated prior to and since the 2022 Australian federal election ... this is compulsory reading. It's not a technical treatise. It's a very easy to read “this is what I believe in and this is what I've done” essay from a man who thinks deeply about where he commits his time and money.
Highly recommended.
Finished reading ... The Big Teal / Simon Holmes à Court ... 14 October 2022
Series: In the National Interest
ISBN: 9781922633569 … 86 pp. plus Notes
I bought this book following a session at my local Readings bookshop, chaired by Gay Alcorn (editor of The Age) and featuring the author, Simon Holmes à Court, and newly minted independent “teal” MP, Monique Ryan.
This is a valuable volume for anyone interested in politics. They would probably know a lot that's in this essay but would be sure to find something new as well. The rare person who might 'know it all' would find it a handy summary.
The real value in this book is a brief outline of Holmes à Court's background, what got him into action on renewable energy, why he got involved in the pre-existing 'community independents' political movement, and what his role is and is not in what has been dubbed the teal movement.
For anyone who wonders about politics, the future of the country, the honesty and integrity (or otherwise) of journalists, political bias, anyone who wonders where the truth lies in all the information and even more misinformation disseminated prior to and since the 2022 Australian federal election ... this is compulsory reading. It's not a technical treatise. It's a very easy to read “this is what I believe in and this is what I've done” essay from a man who thinks deeply about where he commits his time and money.
Highly recommended.
November 6, 2022
The author explains how he came to create the Climate 200 group and then support community independent candidates (also known as"teals") in the 2019 and 2022 Federal elections. A welcome development in Australian politics. The major parties need a shakeup. This book is part of the "In the National Interest" series published by Monash University.
It's great to hear the story of Climate 200 and the rise of the teals from Simon Holmes A Court himself as he and his motives have been seriously misrepresented by most of the Australian media.
It's great to hear the story of Climate 200 and the rise of the teals from Simon Holmes A Court himself as he and his motives have been seriously misrepresented by most of the Australian media.
January 1, 2023
A short personal view on the May 22 Australian Federal election by a major political influencer. The major parties should read this book to understand how a movement of people are trying to do politics differently here. It might not be successful, but it is thoughtful and committed. The funds that Climate 200 bring is important but the connections they foster are even more so. This is not a story about money and the right wing media's focus on that misses a huge point.
October 13, 2022
At under 100 pages, this is quick and deeply informative read. Providing the background to the foundation of Climate 200 and the workings of the Australian electoral and political system, with a focus on the 2022 election, I strongly recommend this.
October 20, 2022
The rise of the independents in the 2022 Federal election is a sea change for Australian politics and an existential threat to the Coalition and, to a lesser extent, the Labor party. This book provides an essential insight into how this shift in our politics came about.
November 29, 2022
Great short book. Easy to read. Covers what is a significant part of our election where so many independents got elected. Strong people with great community support and volunteer input. Disrupters! Wonderful to see and to read about it.
December 30, 2022
A Christmas gift, I enjoyed reading this neat little book recently written following the 2022 Australian election about the success of independents – it is personable plus historical.
August 16, 2023
informative, but would benefit from further future planning
March 6, 2024
Short and sharp and focuses a lot on Simon’s role and the lead up to climate 200. Will be looking for something a bit more in depth on the tea topic next.
October 7, 2023
A very interesting account of the Teals! Great to read content that is palatable and enjoyable relating to Australian politics.
Well done!
Well done!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews