By Allegra Spender, Independent MP for Wentworth
My mum arrived in Australia with nothing. No money and no English – but with the determination to build a better life in a country that allowed her to thrive.
To me, Carla Zampatti was one of a kind, but her story echoes that of many migrant families – especially Greek Australians who rolled up their sleeves and built businesses from the ground up in the Eastern Suburbs.
Mum wanted us to understand the value of hard work. So from the age of 10, I spent every school holiday working in her fashion business. It taught me resilience, respect and the importance of community. These are values I see reflected in so many Greek Australian families who have turned ambition into success.
These values shaped who I am and why I put my hand up to represent Wentworth.
In 2022, I left my career in business and stepped into politics because our community wanted change. They wanted action on climate, integrity in politics, economic reform, and a more inclusive society. But more than anything, they wanted someone who would stand up for their values.
Standing up for businesses
Small businesses are the beating heart of our community. But too often, these businesses are drowning in regulations that make life harder. Add the current cost of living pressures and it’s little wonder many small businesses go under.
Having run multiple businesses, I understand this frustration, which is why I’m determined to back policy that reduces red tape and helps business thrive.
When the government proposed new industrial relations laws, I fought to protect small businesses, securing important safeguards against some of the worst impacts. I also led a push from eight Independent MPs to raise the “small business” threshold from 15 to at least 25 employees – a move that would simplify regulation for over 46,000 businesses.
When the government tried to pass a tax hike on superannuation balances over $3 million, I fought hard to stop them – and succeeded. Taxing paper profits discourages investment and threatens innovation and economic growth.
When I was concerned the extension of the small business instant asset write-off would not pass Parliament, I worked across both houses to get it through in a single day—because local businesses told me how much this change would mean to them.
My dad was a federal Liberal frontbencher, as his father was before him. That meant much of my childhood was spent in Liberal Party t-shirts, handing out flyers. He encouraged me to listen to evidence, engage with people and most importantly – to remain open minded.
That value of independent thinking was key to my decision to run for Parliament as an independent.
I wanted to stand for a different kind of politics – one that puts the community first, listens to the evidence, and delivers real solutions rather than party politics. Too often, our political system focuses on division rather than progress, and I believed we needed a new approach that prioritises integrity, accountability, and action on the issues that matter most.
I am proud of what we have achieved together.
We’ve turned the ship around on climate, with tougher laws on big polluters, record renewable investment, and new standards to deliver cleaner cars. We’re on track to meet our 43% emissions reduction target by 2030, up from 26-28% under the previous government.
Parliament now looks more like modern Australia, with a record number of women and diversity on the crossbench.
I’ve helped deliver a new ombudsman to tackle sexual assault on university campuses, a Special Envoy to combat the rise in antisemitism, and our LGBTQ community will finally be counted in the census. And while the major party’s squabble, I’ve led the debate on economic reform.
My Tax Green Paper was the first ever released by a non-government MP, setting out the urgent need for long-term reform – including lowering income taxes to help young people get ahead.
But beyond any single policy achievement, we’ve proven that politics can be done differently – and that progress is possible.
Looking forward, there is much more to do.
Reducing the costs of renting and home ownership. Reforming our tax system so young people can get ahead. Building a smarter economy that works better for business. Accelerating climate action. Creating a kinder community.
These are big challenges that require bold solutions. Politics as usual won’t do it.
As an independent, I’ll continue to stand up on the tough issues that the major parties are too scared to tackle. I’ll continue to listen to our community and to the experts. I’ll continue to vote every single time based on the values of the community I represent.
And I’ll hold to the values that made Australia a wonderful place for my family to thrive.
