FAQs

No.

Voices of the Inner West is a community-led initiative focused on listening to local people and encouraging participation in shaping the future of the Inner West.

Voices movements begin with the community, bringing people together to talk about what matters most and what kind of representation people want to see.

The Inner West refers to the inner western suburbs of Melbourne. 

This includes Footscray, West Footscray, Kensington, Flemington, Kingsville, South Kingsville, Maidstone, Maribyrnong, Yarraville, Altona, Altona North, Brooklyn, Newport, Seaholme, Spotswood, Williamstown and Williamstown North.

While this year we plan to endorse a candidate for the State electorate of Footscray, the focus of our group longer term includes the broader Inner West region, and community-backed representation at local, State and Federal levels.

Voices of the Inner West is supported by volunteers from across the community. Its formal structure is a registered incorporated association.

People involved come from many different backgrounds and perspectives and share a commitment to strengthening representation and participation in the Inner West.

Voices of the Inner West is a local, community-led initiative focused on the Inner West.

Across Australia, many communities have formed similar grassroots movements to strengthen local representation. Each movement is independently run and shaped by its own community.

Some members of the Voices of the Inner West committee are also part of the Community Independents Project (CIP), a national network that supports people to connect, share knowledge and learn from other Voices groups. Membership is open to anyone.

A community-independent politician is selected and endorsed by a community-led grassroots process. Voices groups usually start the movement, listening first and then selecting a person to represent community views. As well as not being members of political parties, community independents lead by the values embodied in the Community Independents Project way of ‘doing politics differently.’ They are elected to represent their community and make decisions based on the needs and priorities of the people they serve, rather than vested interests or a party platform.

The community independents movement grew from Voices for Indi in 2013 when Cathy McGowan was elected as the Federal MP for Indi. Many of the so-called ‘Teals’ are community independents. Other examples include Dr Helen Haines (Federal MP for Indi) and David Pocock (Federal Senator for the ACT).

No.  

Cathy McGowan, the first community independent (Indi), is not a Teal. Neither is Helen Haines (current Federal MP for Indi). Neither was Alex Dyson who stood for the federal seat of Wannon. Michelle Milthorpe (Farrer) is also not a Teal.

The term ‘Teal’ is a media term, has been commonly used to describe community independent politicians in urban electorates previously held by the Liberals. It is not necessarily a term those representatives would use for themselves. While each candidate develops their own approach and platform based on what their community needs, they often share core values relating to climate, integrity, and gender equity.

Examples of Teals include Monique Ryan (Federal MP for Kooyong), Zoe Daniel (previous member for Goldstein), Allegra Spender (Federal MP for Wentworth) and Kate Chaney (Federal MP for Curtin). 

At this point it is true that all so-called ‘Teals’ are community independents but not all community independents are Teals.

While Voices of the Inner West does not identify as a ‘Teal’ group, we recognise the good work that many elected so-called ‘Teal’ representatives are doing for their own communities. We also share a commitment to action on climate, integrity in politics, equity, and ‘doing politics differently.’