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Independent Zali Steggall has pointed at the “arrogance of the major parties” as a factor in her comfortable victory in Warringah.
Voters have swung towards her since her 2019 win over Tony Abbott on the Sydney Northern Beaches seat.
“The communities are saying, ‘You do not own a seat, it is not yours by right’,” Steggall told Nine.
“Communities want their voice back. They want their vote back.”
With about 30 per cent of ballots counted just after 8pm, Steggall strode ahead with more than 60 per cent of the vote.
Steggall dismissed the suggestion she would form a new party with the other teal independents.
“I’m here as an Independent,” she said.
“We need to think past the idea of political parties.”
Her Liberal opponent Katherine Deves was mired in scandal over past social media posts.
Meanwhile, fellow teal independent Allegra Spender has picked up the seat of Wentworth on the other side of the harbour.
Further north, the seat of Mackellar on Sydney’s Northern Beaches is on a knife’s edge with a strong performance from teal independent Sophie Scamps.
Incumbent Liberal Jason Falinski got 40 per cent of the primary vote, with 21 per cent counted.
But Scamps, a local doctor and former Olympic runner, was only one point behind.
With projected preferences distributed, Scamps is ahead 50.2 per cent to 49.8 per cent.
