Sky News host Peta Credlin said independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe is denying her status as a "Teal" despite significant financial backing from Climate 200 [1].
The dispute centers on whether financial ties to climate-focused funding groups automatically define a candidate's political identity. This tension highlights the ongoing battle over the "Teal" label in Australian politics, where independent candidates often balance local representation with broader environmental agendas.
Credlin focused on funding data from the 2025 federal election during a recent broadcast [1]. She said that receiving funds from Climate 200 classifies a candidate as a Teal. According to Credlin, approximately three-quarters of Milthorpe's funding for that election cycle came from the group [1].
Specific figures cited by Credlin indicate that Milthorpe received over $200,000 [1] from Climate 200 out of a total campaign fund of about $280,000 [1]. The electorate of Farrer, located on the New South Wales–Queensland border, serves as the backdrop for this political friction [2, 3].
“Michelle Milthorpe — she’s denying she’s a Teal,” Credlin said [1]. She said, “If you are funded by Climate 200, you’re a Teal” [1].
While Climate 200 is a primary source of funding, other reports indicate that Milthorpe's backers include Alasdair MacLeod, a pro-climate farmer and son-in-law of Rupert Murdoch [4]. Additionally, Milthorpe previously hired Max Koslowski, a campaign manager associated with Teal movements [2].
Credlin said that the scale of the financial support makes Milthorpe's denial of the label misleading [1]. The debate reflects a broader trend of independent candidates attempting to distance themselves from specific political brands while utilizing the infrastructure and funding those brands provide.
““If you are funded by Climate 200, you’re a Teal.””
This clash underscores the evolving definition of 'Teal' politics in Australia. By linking financial dependency to political identity, critics like Credlin aim to frame independent candidates as proxies for specific interest groups rather than grassroots representatives. For candidates like Milthorpe, the challenge is maintaining a distinct local identity in Farrer while accepting the substantial funding necessary to compete in federal elections.
