A new "coalition of independent women" has been formed in the Victorian parliament, with independent MP Ali Cupper joining influential crossbencher Fiona Patten.
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The duo on Friday announced Ms Cupper will represent the Reason party in the Legislative Assembly and take on the role of deputy leader to Ms Patten.
Ms Cupper said the move will give her a larger voice to advocate for Mildura, which is one of the state's largest and most remote electorates.
"Reason takes the best conservative ideas and the best progressive ideas and melds them together. In my view, they represent exactly what a modern, regional city is," she said in a statement.
"My community knows me as an independent. Essentially nothing will change in that regard. My coalition with Fiona and Reason will simply mean the Mallee region will have a greater say in matters that affect everyone in the state."
Ms Cupper beat Nationals MP Peter Crisp by just 253 votes at the 2018 election, having run as an independent in 2014 and for Labor in 2010.
Ms Patten, meanwhile, has become a key crossbencher in the upper house since her election in 2014 under the banner of the Sex Party.
The party was renamed Reason in 2017.
Ms Cupper will also be the party's spokeswoman on issues such as agriculture, roads and regional development, health and sport.
The women have reached an agreement allowing them to continue to assert their independence - even if it means sometimes voting differently.
"Who says that politics has to be done the same way as the major parties?" Ms Patten said.
"Why can't Ali and I have a coalition of Reason but still retain our independence as well? It is up to us to decide how we approach the task of better advocating for change."
The duo will hold their first party meeting on Monday, prior to the final parliamentary sitting week of the year.
"Important legislation is up for debate in both houses of state parliament," Ms Patten said.
"I am excited to be working with Ali on a range of issues that are in front of us right now."
Australian Associated Press