Independent MP Zoe Daniel is preparing for a tough re-election in Melbourne’s seat of Goldstein.
The former journalist is focusing on cost of living, long-term economic security, and climate policy.
On Tuesday morning’s episode of The Briefing, she walks us through the key issues this election, how independent the Teals really are, and their plan to hold the major parties to account.
Speaking on The Briefing podcast, Daniel said Australians are frustrated with short-term politics. Many want leaders focused on future generations, not party lines.
“There’s really deep-seeded frustration around three yearly short term policy making,” she said.
“The major parties just throw the ball between them and tinker around the edges… but never get anything really substantive done.”
Daniel won Goldstein in 2022 as part of the “Teal” wave, flipping a seat long held by the Liberal Party.
She describes herself as a centrist, and says her approach is based on consultation, evidence, and community input.
“My desire is for pragmatic, sensible, reasoned policy making that is for the benefit of most people,” she said.
In her first term, Daniel has pushed for climate legislation, gender equity, student debt reform, and limits on gambling ads.
She pointed to HECS indexation changes and stronger emissions targets as key wins.
Some argue independents can’t influence major policy. Daniel disagrees.
“The biggest risk is continuing to elect the same people to fix the problems that they created.”
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