Australian Federal election 2025 recap: Anthony Albanese wins landslide, hails ‘profound opportunity’

Bronte Woolley, a media student, said she had voted on housing and economic issues.

“I want more affordable housing,” she said. “It’s really unfair as a student right now, especially for a young person trying to rent in Sydney.

“I’m working full time, studying full time, trying to find a job after I graduate. It’s a lot.”

But Ms Woolley said she was also looking for parties that would protect women’s rights and fight for environmental standards.

She rated the Greens Party as having the best meme game for engaging with Gen Z and Millennials, the largest generational voting bloc.

Tracey and Ninad, who voted with their toddler, said childcare and high property prices were their top concerns.

They said Labor offered the most on childcare, but Ninad added that he was “not a fan” of either of the main party’s housing plans. “Neither is really addressing the underlying issues,” he said.

At the Leichhardt Town Hall in Anthony Albanese’s Sydney constituency of Grayndler, queues of voters were starting to dwindle by late morning after high numbers of pre-polling.

Labor and Green Party volunteers were out in force with voting cards, but a couple of Liberal posters had been defaced, with one showing Peter Dutton’s face with the slogan “I hate poor people,” written in a speech bubble.

Voters were largely families with small children or young people who had been unable to cast their ballot during the week.

A random sample of voters exiting the station put the housing crisis, climate change and the war in Gaza high on their priority list of election issues.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has taken a brief pause from handing out how-to-vote cards to highlight the “best” electoral system in the world.

“Australia has the best electoral system and most reliable electoral regulator in the world, and we should be proud of it,” he wrote on X.

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson is in Tasmania on election Day.

The Senator took to a polling station in Tasmania to support her duaghter, Lee Hanson, who is running for the Senate.

In the Western Australian seat of Cowan, One Nation volunteers are rushing to correct an error on the party’s how-to-vote cards.

In an image provided to this masthead, Cowan how-to-vote cards encourage voters in the Senate to put One Nation first in the “K” column.

In WA, One Nation is in the “M” column, while a vote in “K” is for the Socialist Alliance.

It is understood that volunteers are handwriting the change on the how-to votes.

As some parts of Australia battle through rainy conditions on election day, Senator Murray Watt has attended a sunny Brisbane polling station to support local Labor candidate Madonna Jarret.

“It’s a great morning to vote @AustralianLabor in Brisbane,” Senator Watt wrote.

Independent MP Zali Steggall has voted, taking to social media to ask voters in the seat of Warringah to keep the electorate independent.

Ms Steggall is expected to keep her seat.

Liberal candidate Ben Small has also arrived at Harvey’s polling station giving a final push to voters.

He said he was hopeful the people of Forrest would get behind their positive plans for the electorate.

“I haven’t taken a single vote for granted since I was lucky enough to be pre-selected for the Liberal Party to hopefully continue Nola Marino’s legacy, of delivering for local people here,” he said.

He said a highlight of the campaign has been meeting so many people and hearing their stories.

“They make you proud to be an Aussie,” he said.

Liberal candidate for Curtin and former Uber executive Tom White has arrived to vote in Claremont.

Curtin is expected to be a tightly contested seat, with Mr White up against independent Kate Chaney. The outcome in Curtin could

Mr White hugged his twin brother Nick as he arrived.

Liberal candidate Matt Moran has declared cost of living remains the biggest concern of voters in WA’s newest seat, as he voted at Kalamunda Primary School.

“I’ve door-knocked myself around 5000 houses,” he said.

“I believe the way you campaign is a reflection of the way you represent. they want to know that you work hard for them.

“The number one issue, consistently, is cost of living, it’s housing, telecommunications, roads, keep the sheep, those are the issues. People are worried they can’t put food on the table.”

The Coalition campaign has backed two horses, with Nationals candidate Mia Davies turning the battle for Bullwinkel into a three-way contest.

But Mr Moran denied the former State Opposition Leader has stolen his thunder.

“I’ve just focused on my own campaign and whatever the other parties do that’s up to them,” he said.

“I’m focusing on my electorate, my community and how I can help my community.”