The Teal Independents were shortlisted in a collective nomination for the 2022 McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year for their shared vision, demonstrated collaboration, and combined impact on political leadership in Australia.

The Shortlisting Committee recognised the Teal Independents as figureheads of a movement, reflecting a major shift in the Australian political landscape in 2022 noting that collectively the movement achieved an extraordinary impact on the Australian electorate. The Committee noted that the arrival of the Teal Independents in 2022, shifted politics, at scale, away from a traditional two-party system in typically ‘safe’ seats for the major parties. The Committee also acknowledged the Teal Independents represented a significant shift in the profile of women in political leadership in Australia.  The Committee recognised the Teal Independents as having helped shift the conversation on climate change, centralising it as a fundamental issue of concern to Australian voters.