The most boring election campaign in living memory has delivered the most interesting election result since World War II. While the major parties, and many of the commentators, are struggling to figure out what it all means, the result is actually quite simple to interpret. Australia’s voters do not think that either the ALP or the Coalition deserved a mandate to form a government in their own right.
Related documents
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
The 2025 federal election is the first where a major party received fewer votes than independents and minor parties.
While the May election result was remarkable for the low vote share going to the major parties, it was just the most recent of a very long trend.
The election exposed weaknesses in Australian democracy – but the next parliament can fix them
Australia has some very strong democratic institutions – like an independent electoral commission, Saturday voting, full preferential voting and compulsory voting. These ensure that elections are free from corruption; that electorate boundaries are not based on partisan bias; and that most Australians turn out to vote. They are evidence of Australia’s proud history as an
One more time? | Between the Lines
The Wrap with Amy Remeikis If the polls, the trend, and the vibe are all right, then voters are about to give the Albanese government another chance. But you can feel the reluctance. The only question that seems to remain is whether Labor will govern in its own right, or as a majority. From the