Australian Federal Election 2025

Although it’s extremely rare for Australian voters to deny a first-term government a second go, history may not be on the side of Labor prime minister Anthony Albanese. Saddled with crises of housing and the cost of living, a succession of interest rate hikes and spiraling geopolitical uncertainties, Albanese’s return to office is far from certain. His push for enshrining an indigenous voice in the Australian Parliament was significantly rejected in a referendum that left progressives feeling let down and conservatives charging that it was a waste of time and tax-payer money. Although Albanese comes from the left of his party, he has edged to the centre since taking office in May 2022.

In an era when even the most long-standing alliances are under Trumpian scrutiny, opposition Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton argues that he is better placed for handling the mercurial US president. Dutton has taken a leaf from the White House in promising the elimination of some 41,000 public service jobs. The former small business owner with a long career history in law enforcement combines liberal economics with decidedly illiberal social values. Australia’s Liberals depend on a coalition with the smaller rural National Party. To their right is the reactionary One Nation Party.

Left of Labor is the Australian Greens, with a full throttle commitment to social justice, rent freezing, taxing billionaires and, of course, environmental protection. Party leader Adam Bandt is running a lively campaign, in the hope of propping up a minority Labor government and consequently influencing policy. Given that neither the Coalition nor Labor is expected to enjoy an outright win, it’s not a far-fetched scenario.

One of the unknown factors of the election is the spoiler role that the considerable number of independent and single-issue parties might play in marginal electorates.