Allegra Spender

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Allegra Spender
Australian Parliament for Wentworth
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 May 2022
Preceded byDave Sharma
Personal details
Born (1978-03-10) 10 March 1978 (age 47)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyIndependent
SpouseMark Capps
Children3
Parents
Relatives
EducationAscham School
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
OccupationBusiness executive
Politician
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Allegra Spender (born 10 March 1978) is an Australian politician and businesswoman. She is currently the

political integrity, and gender equality
.

She is the third generation of her family to sit in federal parliament, after her grandfather

management consultant at McKinsey & Company, and corporate executive before entering politics, including as managing director of her mother Carla Zampatti's fashion label and CEO of education charity the Australian Business & Community Network (ABCN).[2]

Early life and education

Allegra Spender was born in

ANZUS Treaty and the Colombo Plan. Her grandmother was Lady Jean Spender, a novelist.[4] Her sister is fashion designer Bianca Spender.[5]
Her half-brother is Alex Schuman.

Spender attended Ascham School, where she was head girl and Dux,[6] and achieved a UAI of 99.95.[7]

She received a BA in economics from the

organisational psychology at the University of London.[3]

Career

Spender started her career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company before working as a policy analyst in the UK Treasury.[9] She later worked as a Change Leader at London's King's College Hospital and as a consultant in Kenya for TechnoServe.[10] Spender was the managing director for her mother's fashion label Carla Zampatti for 9 years.[11][7] She was also the Chair of the Sydney Renewable Power Company[12] and the CEO of the Australian Business & Community Network (ABCN),[13] a social mobility charity that links students from low socio-economic schools and mentors from business.

In early 2020 a local group of professional women established Voices of Wentworth.[14][15] The group was concerned primarily with the Morrison government’s lack of evidence-based climate action, integrity in politics and record on supporting women.[16] Voices of Wentworth was inspired by the impact of similar Voices groups in the electorates of Indi and Warringah.[17]

In 2021, Spender was approached by a separate group of locals “Wentworth Independents” who were seeking an

Independent candidate to run in the division of Wentworth at the 2022 Australian federal election.[2] The group wanted a woman with "deep local roots and an impressive CV" who shared the community's core beliefs on the need for more integrity in politics, action on climate change and gender equality.[2] After initially declining the approach, Spender announced her intention to run in November 2021, citing government inaction on climate change as one of the key reasons for her candidature.[18]

She defeated Liberal incumbent Dave Sharma with 54 percent of the two-party vote,[19] becoming one of several community independents to unseat Liberal incumbents.[20] The seat of Wentworth had previously been in the hands of the Liberals or their predecessors almost entirely since Federation.[21]

Political views and career

Since her election in 2022, Spender's policy platform has focused on strong action on climate change;[22] economic reform;[23] integrity in politics;[24] and support for gender equity,[25] humanitarian treatment of refugees,[25] LGBTQ+ inclusion,[25] and action on antisemitism.[26]

During her first term, Spender was the co-chair of several parliamentary friendship groups, including the Parliamentary Friends of International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), the Parliamentary Friends of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Parliamentary Friends of Tech and Innovation, the Parliamentary Friends of Early Childhood, the Parliamentary Friends of Entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Businesses, the Parliamentary Friends of the Sydney Swans, and the Parliamentary Friends of Running.[27]

Climate action

Spender supports strong action on

fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles,[32] funding to support household electrification, and greater private investment in nature protection.[33][34]

Tax reform

Since entering parliament, Spender has also been a vocal advocate for economic and tax reform.

land tax.[36] In her second National Press Club of Australia address in October 2024, Spender set out an economic reform agenda that included: (i) making it easier to do business by reducing red tape; (ii) ramping up innovation and investment in early stage companies; (iii) improving the integrity of government spending – especially infrastructure; and (iv) reforming the tax system.[38] In late 2024 she released her own tax green paper into the Australian taxation system[43][44] and lead a push to change the definition of a small business from one with 15 employees to 25 employees.[45]

Spender is a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics[46] and the Joint Standing Committee on Migration.[47] She has made significant additional contributions to reports made by the committees during the 47th parliament, including in relation to the Better Competition, Better Prices Inquiry[48] and the Migration, Pathway to Nation Building Inquiry.[49]

Integrity in politics

Spender has campaigned strongly on integrity – including the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission[50] and the improvement of behaviour in parliament. She has described Question Time as a “complete waste of time” labelling the practice as the “biggest disappointment” from her time in politics[51] and criticising the behaviour in parliament as “unlike any workplace I’ve ever been in”.[52] In October 2024, Spender resigned her membership of the Qantas Chairman's Lounge and the Virgin equivalent, saying it was time to end the practice of politicians accepting airline upgrades.[53]

Action on antisemitism

As the representative of the largest Jewish community in Australia, Spender has been a vocal advocate for action on antisemitism giving 14 separate speeches in Parliament[54] and speaking extensively in the media.[55][56][57][58] Spender played a key role in advocating for the appointment of a Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism,[59] helped to secure $8.5m for the Sydney Jewish Museum[60] and has worked closely with the Australasian Union of Jewish Students to combat antisemitism.[citation needed]

On 4 February 2025, some 14 months after the infamous pro-Palestinian rally on 9 October 2023 in front of the Sydney Opera House where rally members chanted anti-semitic statements,[61] Spender introduced a motion condemning antisemitism which was passed unanimously by the Australian Parliament.[62][63] On the same day, she also introduced an amendment to expand hate crimes legislation to outlaw serious vilification.[64]

LQBTQIA+ inclusion

Spender's electorate of Wentworth is also home to large LGBTQIA+ communities in Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, and Paddington. When the Labor Government announced in August 2024 that it would not include questions on LGBTQIA+ identity in the next census, Spender was one of the leading advocates who successfully argued for the decision to be reversed and for LGBTQIA+ people to be counted.[65][66]

Voting record

As of August 2024, Spender's record shows that she has supported 56% of votes called by the Coalition, 50% of votes called by the Labor Party, and 49% of votes called by the Greens.[67]

Writing

Spender is a regular contributor to the Australian Financial Review. Her articles have covered topics including productivity and innovation,[68] migration,[69] business dynamism,[70] industrial relations,[71] tax reform,[72] the impact of independents in parliament,[73] and the relationship between business and government.[74]

Spender has also written for outlets including The Australian,[75] Renew Economy,[76] and Women's Agenda.[77]

Community Engagement

Spender was one of a number of community Independents, who campaigned during the 2022 Australian federal election on “doing politics differently”. Since coming to office, she has reportedly held over 65 community events,[78] featuring the likes of tax expert Ken Henry, renowned playwright Suzie Miller, investigative journalist and author Jess Hill, Professor Tom Calma AO and Tim Buckley.[citation needed] She has also held events with younger local influencers such as Anjali Sharma, Lottie Dalziel, Hannah Ferguson, Chanel Contos and Ruby Langton Batty.[citation needed]

In November 2022, Spender hosted Wentworth’s first ever climate action forum “Powering Wentworth to Net-Zero"[79][80] at the newly renovated Bondi Pavilion in collaboration with Saul Griffith of Rewiring Australia[81] and the Smart Energy Council. The event was moderated by local comedian Dan Ilic.

Bondi Junction stabbings

On 13 April 2024, the Bondi Junction stabbings took place in Spender's electorate of Wentworth. Spender was a highly visible presence in the aftermath of the attacks, comforting local constituents at the site and leading tributes alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns.[82]

As editor of the

Good Weekend, Katrina Strickland commented: “After the Bondi Junction stabbings in April, I, like thousands of others, felt compelled to lay flowers at the impromptu memorial that had sprung up in the nearby shopping centre. I found myself walking past regularly in the days that followed, bearing witness to the growing number of floral tributes, a life-affirming antidote to the darkness of the time. And here's the thing. More often than not, Allegra Spender was there. The member for Wentworth stood in that mall not just when the TV crews were buzzing but long after they’d gone, talking quietly with grieving constituents."[83]

Following the attacks, Spender joined with Elizabeth Young – the mother of Jade Young, one of the victims of the attack – to call for mental health reform across state, territory, and federal governments.[84][85]

2025 Election

Spender won the seat of Wentworth for a second time at the 2025 Australian federal election with an increased majority. She also succeeded in winning the primary vote.[86]

Personal life

Spender has three children.[87] As of May 2024, she lives in Darling Point in Sydney and has properties in Woollahra and Great Mackerel Beach in New South Wales.[88]

Spender is a regular runner, reportedly getting up at 5:30am during parliamentary sitting weeks to go running.[89]

References

  1. ^ Wahlquist, Calla (23 May 2022). "Teal independents: who are they and how did they upend Australia's election?". The Guardian.
  2. ^ a b c Snow, Deborah (27 July 2024). "'Going into politics has taught me I've got more courage than I thought'". Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. ^ a b c "Ms Allegra Spender MP". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  4. ^ Crowe, David (14 October 2022). "John Spender, Allegra Spender's father, dies aged 86". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  5. ^ Hornery, Andrew (28 April 2010). "Designer puts her best foot forward despite separation". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  6. ^ Maley, Jacqueline (19 November 2021). "'The real reason is the environment': Allegra Spender to run as Wentworth independent". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Carla Zampatti's Daughter Allegra Spender on community solar power". The Carousel. 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  8. ^ Hooton, Amanda (15 September 2017). "Allegra Spender: how mum Carla Zampatti did things 'differently'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  9. ^ Parliament of Australia. "Ms Allegra Spender MP".
  10. ^ Mehmet, Emine (3 April 2021). "Carla Zampatti's Daughter Allegra Spender On Community Solar Power". The Carousel. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Allegra Spender's Sydney solar company rides renewable boom". Australian Financial Review. 23 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  12. ^ Vorrath, Sophie (17 November 2016). "Sydney CBD 520kW solar array opens for public investment". RenewEconomy. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Allegra Spender ABCN's new Chief Executive Officer". ABCN. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. ^ Saville, Margot (30 March 2021). "If Morrison is hearing voices, it's not his imagination — it's a grassroots revolution". Crikey.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Voices of Wentworth". 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Fox, Catherine (15 December 2022). ""The Teal Revolution" details how six women Independents splintered our two-party system". The Big Smoke.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ISBN 9781743799307.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link
    )
  18. ^ "Allegra Spender, Carla Zampatti's daughter, to vie for Wentworth seat at federal election". SBS News. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  19. ^ Norington, Brad (22 May 2022). "Federal Election 2022: Allegra Spender defeats Liberals' Dave Sharma in Wentworth in independent wave". The Australian.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ISBN 9781760465810
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  21. ^ Sas, Nick (13 October 2018). "Wentworth by-election: A look at the make or break seat where voters are 'torn'".
  22. ^ Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent. "Policies - Climate".
  23. ^ Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent. "Policies - Economy".
  24. ^ Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent. "Policies - Integrity".
  25. ^ a b c Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent. "Policies - Inclusivity".
  26. ^ Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent. "Policies - Antisemitism".
  27. ^ Parliament of Australia. "Parliamentary Friendship Groups - Non-Country".
  28. ^ Galloway, Anthony (21 May 2022). "Teals to demand action on integrity commission and climate". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  29. ^ "Detailed Policies". Allegra Spender. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  30. ^ Parliament of Australia. "Parliament of Australia - Climate Change Bill".
  31. ^ Curtis, Katrina; Foley, Mike; Thompson, Angus (4 August 2022). "Labor's climate change bill passes lower house". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  32. ^ Mazengarb, Michael (21 April 2022). "Climate independents to push next government to electrify transport". Renew Economy.
  33. ^ Parliament of Australia. "Nature Repair Bill 2023".
  34. ^ Spender, Allegra (10 October 2024). "Australian Nature is in crisis". Twitter.
  35. ^ Wright, Shane (23 October 2024). "Solve decades of political 'stuff-ups' with hung parliament: Spender". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  36. ^ a b McIlroy, Tom (23 October 2023). "Teals warn: Don't assume we won't back Dutton in a hung parliament".
  37. ^ Spender, Allegra (31 January 2024). "Australia's Tax Dilemma - The Case for Real Reform". The National Press Club of Australia.
  38. ^ a b Spender, Allegra (23 October 2024). "The Power of Balance: Economic reform from the sensible centre". The National Press Club of Australia.
  39. ^ Ravlic, Tom (5 April 2023). "Spender gathers top economic thinkers to discuss tax reform". The Mandarin.
  40. ^ ABC Sydney (9 May 2023). "Teal independent wants a national conversation on tax".
  41. ^ Wright, Shane (27 March 2023). "Spender to hold own tax summit - wants more than a dusty document". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  42. ^ The Australian. "Spender seeks buy-in on need for tax reform".
  43. ^ Wright, Shane (27 November 2024). "Why tax reform is the national debate we can no longer afford to avoid". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  44. ^ Chen, Christine (25 November 2024). "Teal MP details top tax reform priorities in green paper". Accountants Daily.
  45. ^ Coorey, Phil (5 December 2024). "Teals aren't letting the Liberals whitewash them as Greens". The Australian Financial Review.
  46. ^ Parliament of Australia. "House Economics Committee".
  47. ^ Parliament of Australia. "Joint Standing Committee on Migration".
  48. ^ Parliament of Australia. "Better Competition, Better Prices Inquiry".
  49. ^ Parliament of Australia. "Migration Pathway Report".
  50. ^ Karp, Paul (26 September 2022). "Federal Icac will have power to investigate third parties who pose corruption threat, Labor vows". The Guardian.
  51. ^ Green, Eli (1 March 2023). "Question Time slammed as a 'waste of time' by Allegra Spender". News.com.
  52. ^ Ireland, Olivia (22 August 2024). "'Unlike any workplace I've ever been in': The push to punish MPs for bad behaviour". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  53. ^ Hannah, Wooton (4 November 2024). "Allegra Spender quits Chairman's Lounge, demands Qantas ends upgrades". The Australian Financial Review.
  54. ^ Spender, Allegra (January 2025). "Standing up against Antisemitism". Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent.
  55. ^ Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent. "Policies - Antisemitism".
  56. ^ Narunsky, Gareth (2 October 2024). "Allegra Spender on October 7". The Australian Jewish News.
  57. ^ ABC (16 November 2023). "VIDEO: Independent MP calls for calm conversation on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia".
  58. ^ J-Wire News Service (13 May 2024). "Cross bench MPs calls on the government to deal with university antisemitism". J-Wire.
  59. ^ Brook, Stephen; Napier-Raman, Kishor (4 July 2024). "Albanese government set to announce new antisemitism envoy". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  60. ^ Benjamin, Henry (11 December 2024). "Anthony Albanese announces $8.5m for the Sydney Jewish Museum". J-Wire.
  61. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  62. ^ Kolieb, Sharyn (6 February 2025). "Motion condemning antisemitism in Parliament". Australian Jewish News.
  63. ^ Crowe, David (4 February 2025). "'Stop it at its source': Hate-speech laws back on table after unanimous vote". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  64. ^ Jervis-Bardy, Dan (4 February 2025). "Allegra Spender launches 11th-hour bid to plug 'gaping hole' in Labor's hate crime bill". The Guardian.
  65. ^ ABC (28 August 2024). "'Flabbergasted': MPs urge LGBT census decision reversal".
  66. ^ Potts, Andrew (5 September 2024). "Teal Independents Spender and Steggall back census reform". Q News.
  67. ^ Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent. "Voting Record".
  68. ^ Spender, Allegra (17 September 2024). "Why dwindling productivity is a big deal for superannuation". The Australian Financial Review.
  69. ^ Spender, Allegra (4 June 2024). "Migration is our 'special sauce', so let's be rational about it". The Australian Financial Review.
  70. ^ Spender, Allegra (8 April 2024). "Government needs to remove the barriers to business dynamism". The Australian Financial Review.
  71. ^ Spender, Allegra (13 November 2023). "Labor's sledgehammer on the workers". The Australian Financial Review.
  72. ^ Spender, Allegra (3 September 2023). "Tax reform too important to be hostage to party politics". The Australian Financial Review.
  73. ^ Spender, Allegra (19 May 2023). "A year on, the teal wave has been rebutting oppositional politics". The Australian Financial Review.
  74. ^ Spender, Allegra (6 February 2023). "Why business is losing faith in the government". The Australian Financial Review.
  75. ^ Spender, Allegra. "To get our economy on track we need both tax and spending reform". The Australian.
  76. ^ Spender, Allegra (17 March 2024). "Families need one stop shop, and budget support, to kick fossil fuels out of home". Renew Economy.
  77. ^ Spender, Allegra. "Of all the issues facing women, it's the 'motherhood penalty' that really boils my blood". Women's Agenda.
  78. ^ "Doing politics differently". The Wentworth Independent. Spring 2024.
  79. ^ Spender, Allegra (16 December 2022). "Powering Wentworth to Net Zero - Part 1". You Tube.
  80. ^ "Powering Wentworth to Net Zero". Allegra Spender MP - Wentworth's Independent.
  81. ^ Rewiring Australia. "Rewiring Wentworth".
  82. ^ AFR View (14 April 2024). "Bondi Junction tragedy brings out the best". The Australian Financial Review.
  83. ^ Strickland, Katrina (27 July 2024). "Good Weekend". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  84. ^ Roberts, Millie (3 July 2024). "Mother of Bondi Junction stabbing victim calls for better critical mental health care amid service gap 'crisis'". ABC.
  85. ^ Scott, Elfy (3 July 2024). "'Please do something': The call for mental health reform in the wake of Bondi stabbing attack". SBS.
  86. ^ "The key Sydney seats: the winners and the one fight everyone is watching". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 May 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  87. ^ Abadee, Nicole (23 September 2022). "Two of Us: Sisters Bianca and Allegra Spender". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  88. ^ "The private interests of Allegra Spender MP". openpolitics.au. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  89. ^ Patten, Sally (27 August 2024). "How this former McKinsey consultant finds jobs she loves". Australian Financial Review.
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Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Wentworth
2022–present 		Incumbent
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