This morning, Warringah MP Zali Steggall – who has represented much of the Northern Beaches as the Warringah member since 2019 – and Wentworth MP Allegra Spender announced the launch of Community Strong Australia (CSA), a new political party. An application has been lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission, with registration expected by October 2026.
The party is designed to support community-backed candidates in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Steggall and Spender say MPs will retain a free vote on all policies and remain accountable to their local communities.
Zali Steggall reached out to Northern Beaches Living to share the following statement with residents:
“The creation of Community Strong Australia is an important next chapter for our community and the movement that Warringah helped build.
I’ve been speaking to residents, volunteers and supporters for some time on what comes next for Warringah and the community independent movement more broadly — and the message has been clear. We need to strengthen the movement that Warringah helped to create and provide more opportunities for everyday people, and for more communities, to have a genuine voice in Parliament.
For years, Warringah has proven that politics works best when the community comes first. Community Strong Australia is about building on the success of the community independent movement. And by running candidates in the Senate, Community Strong Australia offers Warringah the chance to double its impact in Parliament by supporting a candidate committed to practical, community-focused solutions.
For me, Warringah has always and will always come first. As a member of Community Strong Australia I’ll continue to fight for Warringah and focus on the issues that matter most to locals. Warringah has been a driving force behind the success of the community independent movement and I will continue to listen to Warringah and represent its interests as fiercely as I have done over the past seven years.
Over the weeks and months ahead, I’ll continue to meet residents across Warringah to hear their views so we can shape this next chapter together. The creation of Community Strong Australia is an opportunity for Warringah to continue leading the way, and to help build a politics that is more connected, more accountable, more diverse and more focused on the people it serves.”
— Zali Steggall MP, Member for Warringah
About Community Strong Australia
The following infographic was provided by Zali Steggall’s office and outlines the structure and values of Community Strong Australia.
What Happens Next for the Northern Beaches?
Steggall says she will continue holding community meetings across the electorate in the weeks and months ahead. Northern Beaches residents who want to share their views can do so at one of those upcoming meetings.
Community Strong Australia will also be engaging with communities around the country over coming months as it shapes its direction ahead of the expected October 2026 registration. More information is available at communitystrong.org.au.
