Independent candidates.
Member-decided policy.
Real accountability.
The party system is no longer serving Australian democracy well. CIA backs conservative independents who answer to the people who elect them, between elections as well as at them.
Who We Are
The Conservative Independents Alliance (CIA) is a not-for-profit, member-run association, formed in the belief that the party system is no longer serving Australian democracy well.
CIA is not a political party. It exists to identify, endorse and support conservative independent candidates for federal, State and local government who share its Foundational Principles.
What sets CIA apart is who holds the power. Policy is decided directly by members through binding ballots, not by a party room. Every candidate CIA endorses signs an Accountability Deed, committing them to that platform and to answering to the people of their electorate between elections, not just at them.
Through its youth arm, Concerned Young Australians, CIA is also developing the next generation of civic leaders.
Policy by ballot
CIA's policies are adopted by a direct vote of members, not handed down from a party room.
The Accountability Deed
Every candidate CIA endorses signs a deed to campaign on the members' platform and to serve their constituents for the full term.
Constituent recall
If 40% of a representative's own constituents vote for recall, CIA withdraws its endorsement and calls on them to resign.
Our Foundational Principles
Every member affirms these thirteen principles. They mark the boundary of debate within CIA. Inside that boundary, members are free to disagree.
- Constitutional democracy and accountable governmentFree and fair elections, the rule of law, an independent judiciary and accountable institutions.
- Individual liberty and freedom of expressionFreedom of thought, conscience, inquiry, expression and civil disagreement.
- Equality before the lawThe equal dignity of every Australian, and no allocation of rights by race, ancestry, sex or other immutable characteristic.
- Personal responsibilityRights are inseparable from the responsibilities that sustain them.
- Private property, merit and enterpriseThe reward of merit and effort, and productive enterprise as the foundation of prosperity.
- Freedom of associationThe right to associate, or decline to associate, free from compulsion.
- Strong families and communitiesThe family as the primary institution for raising each generation, and the value of local communities.
- National sovereigntyAustralia's right to secure its borders, make its own laws and put the national interest first.
- Limited, confident and accountable governmentGovernment limited in reach, transparent in conduct and accountable for its decisions.
- Institutional continuityOur constitutional and civic inheritance is to be defended, improved and handed on, not dismantled.
- Equality of opportunityEqual opportunity, in preference to engineered equality of outcome.
- Protection of children and freedom of conscienceBiological reality, the primacy of parental responsibility, and freedom of conscience for individuals and institutions.
- Direct accountabilityPolitical power is a trust, and representatives must answer to their constituents between elections, not merely at them.
How It Works
CIA puts two powers back where they belong: members set the policy, and voters hold their representatives to it.
1. Members decide policy by ballot
CIA's Policy Platform is made up of Policy Mandates, and each one is adopted, changed or removed only by a direct Policy Ballot of members. Every member has one vote.
If fewer than 60% of members vote, the ballot lapses. It isn't treated as a “no”, and the proposal can be put again later. The adopted Policy Platform is always published, both to members and on this website.
2. Candidates sign an Accountability Deed
CIA's endorsement of a candidate takes effect only once they have signed an Accountability Deed. By signing it, the candidate undertakes to:
- campaign on the Policy Platform and, if elected, act consistently with it;
- serve and support their constituents for the full term of office; and
- resign if their own constituents pass a Recall Resolution.
Candidates stand as independents. CIA supports them; it doesn't direct them. The deed is a personal commitment the candidate chooses to make before election.
3. Constituents can recall
If an elected representative materially departs from the platform they were elected on, members and constituents can ask for a Recall Ballot.
If the Recall Resolution passes, CIA immediately withdraws its endorsement and its name, and calls on the representative to honour their deed and resign. Only the representative can resign their seat; no private association can remove anyone from office. The deed makes resigning a promise they gave in advance.
4. No factions, no takeovers
Members are free to disagree, debate and campaign for their views inside CIA. What the Constitution forbids is an organised faction: a group with its own list, money, slate or discipline, set up to capture control of the association. The core of CIA's Constitution is also entrenched, so it can only be changed with overwhelming member support.
Policies
At CIA, policy isn't written by a leader or a party room. It is adopted by members, by ballot.
Areas being developed for members to consider
The committee is preparing draft proposals in the following areas. Each will be put to members as a Policy Ballot, and becomes CIA policy only if members adopt it.
| Area | The question |
|---|---|
| Energy and industry costs | How can we bring down the network and transmission costs that households, farms and manufacturers pay for? |
| Farming and regional Australia | How can we cut input costs and red tape for primary producers? |
| Housing affordability | How can we get more homes built and make them affordable to buy, especially in NSW? |
| Infrastructure and population | How do we make sure housing, roads, hospitals and schools keep pace with population growth? |
| Freedom and regulation | How can we review old regulation, protect free speech and keep Digital ID voluntary? |
| Education | How can we get back to basics in literacy and numeracy, and give parents more transparency? |
Have your say
Members can propose policy and vote on every Policy Ballot. Join CIA to take part.
Candidates
Endorsed candidates
CIA has not yet endorsed any candidates. Endorsed candidates will be listed here, with their electorate and a link to their Accountability Deed commitments.
Thinking of standing as an independent?
Standing alone as an independent is hard. CIA exists to change that, by giving independents who share our principles a platform decided by members, a network of supporters and practical help on the ground, while leaving them free to stand in their own name.
In return, CIA asks every endorsed candidate to sign an Accountability Deed: to campaign on the members' Policy Platform, to serve their constituents for the full term, and to accept constituent recall.
We are especially keen to hear from people considering the March 2027 NSW State election and local government.
If that sounds like you, tell us a little about yourself below and a committee member will be in touch in confidence.
OzSpeaks — Talkback for the Regions
Many Australians in regional and remote areas can't pick up talkback radio, and the big broadcasters don't speak for them anyway. We're building an alternative.
What it is
Talkback for the Regions is CIA's online talkback program, and OzSpeaks is its broadcast name. It will be streamed live, with hosts, guests and a phone line so listeners can call in and join the conversation, and recordings will be available for anyone who missed the live show.
Programming will include regular hosted talk sessions, a youth hour run by Concerned Young Australians, community and faith programs, and the Policy Challenge, where candidates of every stripe are invited to test their policies against hard questions, with each invitation made on the same terms.
Listen
Launch date, stream links and the program guide will be posted here and under News & Events.
Take part
Interested in presenting, producing, or coming on as a guest? Get in touch and choose “Talkback for the Regions”.
Support it
The program runs on volunteers and donations. Donations will open shortly.
News & Events
Conservative Independents Alliance formed
CIA was formally established in September 2026. Its business name is registered, and its founding committee is in place. The draft Constitution, Association Rules and Policies & By-Laws have been agreed by the committee and are now with our solicitor for review, before incorporation as a NSW association.
Upcoming events
There are no public events listed yet. Meetings, forums and Talkback for the Regions broadcasts will appear here as they are scheduled.
To hear about events first, join CIA or contact us.
From the Chair
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the Conservative Independents Alliance.
Many Australians feel that the parties they once supported no longer listen to them. Policy is decided behind closed doors, candidates are chosen by factions, and once elected, too many representatives answer to the party room before they answer to the people who voted for them.
CIA was formed to do things differently. We are not another party. We support independents, and we ask something of them that no party asks: to campaign on a platform our members have voted for, and to remain answerable to their own electorate for the whole of their term.
We are at the beginning. Our governing documents are with our solicitor, our committee is at work, and we are preparing for the March 2027 NSW State election. If you share our principles, I invite you to join us and help build something the major parties can't: an association of the people, for the people.
Gerald Mattinson
Chairman, Conservative Independents Alliance
Chairman's reports
Reports to members will be published here.
Youth: Concerned Young Australians
The next generation of civic leaders
Concerned Young Australians (CYA) is CIA's youth arm for Australians aged 16 to 35. CYA builds practical skills in policy development, public speaking, political campaigning and community engagement, through clubs, mentoring and events.
Join CIA
Membership is open to anyone who affirms CIA's Foundational Principles and agrees to be bound by its Constitution and Rules. Every member has one vote on every Policy Ballot.
Donate
CIA is funded by its members and supporters, not by corporate or foreign interests.
What your support will do
- Help independent candidates meet the cost of standing for election
- Get Talkback for the Regions on air
- Run secure member ballots on policy
- Support Concerned Young Australians' leadership programs
Before you give
Australian electoral law restricts who may donate to organisations involved in elections. When donations open, you will be asked to confirm that you are an Australian citizen or resident, that the gift is your own money, and that you are not a prohibited donor under NSW law (for example, a property developer). Larger donations must be publicly disclosed as the law requires.
Donations to CIA are not tax-deductible.
Contact Us
General enquiries
Membership
Privacy Policy
Our commitment
The Conservative Independents Alliance (ABN 58 872 104 276) handles personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.
What we collect
When you apply for membership, donate, make an enquiry or contact us, we may collect your name, contact details, address, electorate, and the declarations you make on our forms.
Some of this is sensitive information under the Privacy Act, including your political opinions and whether you belong to a political party or association. We only collect it with your consent, and only because we need it to assess and manage membership.
How we use it
- To assess and manage your membership, including committee consideration of your application
- To conduct member ballots and, for recall ballots, to verify eligibility
- To respond to your enquiries and keep you informed about CIA's activities and events
- To receipt donations and meet our legal disclosure obligations under Commonwealth and State electoral law
We will never sell your information or give it to anyone for marketing. We disclose it only where the law requires it, for example donor disclosures to the Australian Electoral Commission or the NSW Electoral Commission.
Storage and security
Your information is stored in secure Microsoft 365 systems. Access is limited to the committee members and officers who need it for their role. Card payments, once available, will be processed by Stripe, and CIA never sees or stores your card details.
Your rights
You can ask to see or correct the information we hold about you, ask us to delete it (unless the law requires us to keep it), or unsubscribe from our emails at any time.
For any privacy question or complaint, please contact info@cia-aus.com. If you're not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.