27 Facts About Allegra Spender

Allegra Spender was born on 10 March 1978 and is an Australian politician and businesswoman.

Allegra Spender is currently the member of parliament for Wentworth, having won the seat at the 2022 Australian federal election.

Allegra Spender is one of a number of centrist community independents who won election on a platform of action on climate change, economic reform, political integrity, and gender equality.

Allegra Spender is the third generation of her family to sit in federal parliament, after her grandfather Sir Percy Spender and father John Spender.

Allegra Spender was born in Sydney on 10 March 1978.

Allegra Spender is the daughter of former Liberal politician and diplomat John Spender and fashion designer Carla Zampatti.

Allegra Spender's grandfather, Sir Percy Spender, was a Liberal MP under Prime Minister Robert Menzies, a diplomat and the president of the International Court of Justice.

Allegra Spender received a BA in economics from the University of Cambridge, where she was at Trinity College, and an MSc in organisational psychology at the University of London.

Allegra Spender later worked as a Change Leader at London's King's College Hospital and as a consultant in Kenya for TechnoServe.

Allegra Spender was the managing director for her mother's fashion label Carla Zampatti for 9 years.

In late 2021, Allegra Spender was approached by a local community group who were seeking an Independent candidate to run in the division of Wentworth at the 2022 Australian federal election.

Allegra Spender defeated Liberal incumbent Dave Sharma with 54 percent of the two-party vote, becoming one of several community independents to unseat Liberal incumbents.

Allegra Spender is the co-chair of several parliamentary friendship groups, including the Parliamentary Friends of International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, 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, and the Parliamentary Friends of Running.

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

Allegra Spender has twice addressed the National Press Club of Australia on economic policy issues, making the case for broad tax reform in January 2024 and for 'economic reform from the sensible centre' in October 2024.

Allegra Spender has been outspoken in her support for lowering income taxes and replacing stamp duty with land tax.

Allegra Spender is a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics and the Joint Standing Committee on Migration.

Allegra Spender 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 and the Migration, Pathway to Nation Building Inquiry.

In October 2024, Allegra 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.

Allegra Spender played a key role in advocating for the appointment of a Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, helped to secure $8.5m for the Sydney Jewish Museum and has worked closely with the Australasian Union of Jewish Students to combat antisemitism.

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, Allegra Spender introduced a motion condemning antisemitism which was passed unanimously by the Australian Parliament.

Allegra Spender is a regular contributor to the Australian Financial Review.

Allegra Spender's articles have covered topics including productivity and innovation, migration, business dynamism, industrial relations, tax reform, the impact of independents in parliament, and the relationship between business and government.

Allegra Spender has written for outlets including The Australian, Renew Economy, and Women's Agenda.

Allegra Spender has held events with younger local influencers such as Anjali Sharma, Lottie Dalziel, Hannah Ferguson, Chanel Contos and Ruby Langton Batty.

Allegra 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.

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