By Tess Ikonomou

Teal independents are considering forming a political party to present voters with an alternative to the two major parties, but some of their ranks have already ruled out joining.

Independent MP Zali Steggall, who holds former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott’s old seat of Warringah in Sydney, confirmed the group was discussing how they could be more effective in parliament as Australia entered a time of “political flux”.

“I’m always open … I’ve made my third term, and after seven years in parliament, I can see how there are many things we could do politics better and differently,” she told ABC Radio on Monday.

“There’s huge frustration and unhappiness with the major parties.”

It comes in response to recent analysis published by RedBridge Group and Accent showing One Nation could become the opposition if a federal election were to be held.

Ms Steggall said the rise of One Nation was “really concerning” for many voters.

But Kooyong MP Monique Ryan, who won her seat from Liberal Josh Frydenberg in 2022, confirmed she will not join a potential party of teals.

“Representing the people of Kooyong in Canberra has been one of the biggest honours of my life,” she wrote in a statement published on social media.

“I will continue to do that in the capacity in which I was elected: as a community independent, voted for and answerable to the people of Kooyong.”

Curtin MP Kate Chaney also said she would remain a community independent.

“I am interested in working more collaboratively with other crossbenchers on policy, many of our communities have similar values, but right now I do not think that requires me to be a member of a political party,” she said.

A number of independents were swept into power at the 2022 federal election, taking away several metropolitan seats across the country that were traditionally held by the Liberals.

Other independents who aren’t teals in parliament have hosed down suggestions of joining a party if it was set up.

Victorian MP Helen Haines said she wanted to remain as an independent for her community.

“Let a thousand blossoms bloom. If people want to talk about forming more formal allegiances through a party, go your hardest,” she told reporters in Canberra.

“It’s not something for me but it may be something for other people.”

Other crossbenchers, including Bob Katter, former National Andrew Gee and Centre Alliance’s Rebekha Sharkie, also said they would stay as independents.

Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull denied rumours he was involved in the talks to create a teal political party.

“There is a vacuum for an alternative centre party,” he told ABC Radio.

“The teals would be obvious people to be part of that … but whether they actually decide to do so is up to them. So I’m not involved with any plans to set something up.”

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender, who holds Mr Turnbull’s old seat, said conversations have been held over time about how politics “could evolve”.

“They (voters) are really concerned that, frankly, the major parties are not addressing the issues that matter most to people,” she said.

“A lot of people are saying, you know, we need to do something different.

“So I’ve certainly had lots of conversations, nothing more than that to announce at the moment.”

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the teals had already acted like a party for years and downplayed speculation moderate Liberals might join them.

The RedBridge analysis cautioned against the “reflexive interpretation” that growing support for One Nation was showing Australian society was lurching towards the far right.

Many people were instead experiencing deteriorating living standards and public services, while trust in institutions such as government, media and businesses had collapsed, it said.