Election Day in Australia (May 3, 2025) saw long queues outside polling booths as citizens lined up to vote under the country’s compulsory voting laws. By early morning, even traditionally low-turnout regional centres reported turnout well above 90%. Community sausage sizzles – the famed “democracy sausage” tradition – fired up at many polling places, with voters joking that a snag in bread was as much part of the Election Day ritual as marking a ballot.
Figure 1: Australian Federal Election 2025
Across the nation, media outlets tracked voter turnout and began rolling in election results live, even as some younger voters told reporters they were casting ballots “just so Dutton doesn’t come in”.
Major Candidates and Campaign Themes
Peter Dutton’s Campaign
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton led the Liberal–National Coalition campaign, focusing on economic management and home ownership. He criticised Labor’s record on cost of living and pitched a plan to ease the housing crisis. In a Brisbane rally, he declared, “I want to make sure that it’s easier, not harder, for Australians, and this election really is about who can manage the economy.”
Figure 2: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton led the Liberal–National Coalition campaign, focusing on economic management and home ownership. [AI-generated image]
Dutton campaigned to cut permanent migration by 25% to boost the housing supply and even support nuclear power in the long term. He pledged tax cuts (a 25¢/litre fuel excise cut and $1,200 rebates) as short-term relief, saying such measures would “make Australians better off”. A combative campaign style saw Dutton often lambasting the media – telling supporters “forget about… what you have been told by the ABC, in the Guardian and the other hate media” – and vowing a Coalition government would “save motorists 25 cents a litre” on petrol. Dutton’s team hoped to reclaim seats lost in 2022 by positioning themselves as the answer to rising living costs and “the forgotten Australians” of regional and suburban areas.
Anthony Albanese’s Campaign
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the incumbent Labor Party, seeking a second term. Labour emphasised its traditional strengths in health, education and social services, arguing that Medicare was under threat. As Albanese told voters, “At this election, this little card here, your Medicare card, is what is at stake.”
Figure 3: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the incumbent Labor Party, seeking a second term.
Labour had already pledged an extra A$8.5 billion to Medicare and promised to make thousands of GP visits free under a Medicare overhaul. Albanese warned that a Coalition government might pay for its tax cuts by “ripping into health, education and childcare” budgets. He cast the choice as one between a fair-go, centre-left government and a Conservative plan that threatened social spending. Albanese toured the country promising to “open doors of opportunity” for younger Australians and even cast his campaign around values like compassion and national pride. In debates and rallies, he contrasted Labor’s record of 30 years of Medicare with Dutton’s more controversial policies – for example, accusing the Coalition of a “risky and expensive” nuclear energy plan.
Key Issues and Battlegrounds
Healthcare and Cost-of-Living
The healthcare debate was central. Labour made Medicare reform its signature issue, portraying the election as a choice about preserving universal health care. For example, Albanese held up his own Medicare card and said voters should decide “who can protect this right”. The Coalition countered by saying Labor’s bigger deficits would lead to higher taxes and that Labor was failing to tackle inflation and housing.
Both major parties promised more spending on schools and childcare – a nod to working families – but attacked each other over how to pay for it. Analysts noted that many voters were most concerned about the cost of groceries, energy and rent. Early on, Newspoll had Labor only narrowly ahead (about 52–48 on a two-party-preferred basis), and one survey warned of a possible hung parliament if neither party won enough seats.
Kooyong and the “Teal” Independents
One of the fiercest battlegrounds was Kooyong, an inner-Melbourne electorate that was a Liberal stronghold for 70 years before independent Monique Ryan won it in 2022. Ryan, one of the centrist “teal” independents, was campaigning on climate action and integrity reforms. The Coalition’s candidate, Amelia Hamer – a young fintech executive – ran as a fresh face promising to address housing and local concerns. Intense skirmishes marked the Kooyong contest. For example,
Hamer claimed that Ryan’s team had compiled a “dirt file” on her, telling ABC reporters: “Monique Ryan’s team put together a dirt file and put that on the internet, and so I just want to make that clear.” Hamer’s campaign signs even became a legal flashpoint: just days before Election Day, council workers removed several of her corflutes at a polling place, prompting a court injunction in favour of the Liberals. (The Boroondara council insisted the signage had breached local rules; the Liberals cried foul.) In post-election counting, Kooyong was still a seat to watch as votes from upscale suburbs trickled in.
Smaller Parties and Independents
Beyond the big two, minor parties and independents played interesting roles. The Australian Greens held a few inner-city seats (like Melbourne and Brisbane) and fielded candidates nationwide, pushing Labor leftwards. Populist right-wing parties such as Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party campaigned heavily, too (Palmer’s massive election ads were a media talking point).
However, neither was expected to win large numbers of seats in the House. Still, in a tightly balanced contest, crossbenchers could hold the balance of power. National polls in late April suggested Labor might win a slim majority but warned that “the election could also deliver a hung parliament with Labor likely forming a minority government”. In practical terms, this meant that minor party senators and independents could influence which policies were passed in the new Parliament. Indeed, analysts noted that a hung Parliament is considered… a reasonable possibility given how close many seats were projected to be.
Controversies and Unexpected Incidents
Election campaigns saw their share of fireworks. Peter Dutton’s remarks about the media (“hate media”) drew criticism, and Labor loudly attacked the Liberal track record on issues like aged care and the robodebt scandal. There were also lighter moments: for example, the Guardian reported some voters turned up to Bondi polling stations sporting nothing but their ‘budgie smugglers’ (speedo swimmers) and walking dogs around polling places, embracing the festive side of election day activities.
Tragically, there were incidents, too—a protester interrupted Finance Minister Katy Gallagher at a booth to decry her party’s Palestinian stance—but no major disruptions were reported. Both leaders urged calm. In the final stretch, Dutton confidently predicted the Coalition would win by 6 p.m. on Saturday, while Albanese campaigned late into the night, assuring supporters that Labor would fight for every vote.
Election Results and Outcome Analysis
As polls closed on Saturday evening, preliminary election results began trickling in from each state. The count showed swings against both sides in different regions. Early returns suggested neither party would hit the 76-seat majority outright. By Sunday, it became clear the 48th Parliament was likely to be hung. News outlets reported that Labor and the Coalition were neck-and-neck in the seat tally, with several key marginals still undecided. In this scenario, minor parties and independents were suddenly in the spotlight.
For example, the final result in Queensland seats (where One Nation ran strongly) and in some southern suburbs could tilt control. Analysts told Reuters that forming a government would hinge on the crossbench: “The election could also deliver a hung parliament with Labor likely forming a minority government”.
A hung result would have significant implications. Neither party would govern alone, forcing negotiations for support. Both Albanese and Dutton had signalled they would seek confidence deals with minor parties and independents to form a stable government. Some commentators noted this could boost the influence of the Teal independents and the Greens – a scenario unheard of in recent federal elections. Given Australia’s track record, the outcome was uncertain: for now, an anxious public and the two major parties were braced for days of counting, preference distributions and likely bargaining.
Voter Sentiment and What’s Next
As Australia awakens to its first election results in Australia 2025, reflection is underway on what the close contest means for the country’s future. Voter sentiment seemed driven by economic anxiety and generational change: many younger Australians were voting to prevent the “worst possible” outcome, while older voters looked for tax relief and cost-of-living help. The tight results underscore deep divisions – between city and country, rich and struggling, conservative and progressive. In the end, Australians may have to wait for coalition-building talks before knowing who will lead.
Regardless, this election—with its high turnout and intense battles—has already shown that federal elections in Australia remain unpredictable and fierce. Voters went to bed on Saturday believing the next government would need broad support to govern, reflecting a public mood that wants pragmatic, cross-party solutions over one-party dominance. As one analyst noted, the electorate seems to have sent a message that no party can “steamroll” its agenda without compromise.
In short, this election has brought parliamentary balance and negotiation back into the spotlight, setting the stage for a new kind of governance in Australia’s national politics.
Sources of information: ABC, The Guardian, Reuters
