Expert Alert: Federal Election 2025

Contact a.carson@latrobe.edu.au or via Jess Whitty (Senior Media Advisor) 0481 383 817

Topic areas:

• Negative campaigning: fears around migration, the cost of living and nuclear energy
• Comparisons with US and UK politics
• What is ‘constant campaigning’?
• News trust and news avoidance
• Election and voter fatigue
• The rise of independent candidates (and will they survive?)
• Misinformation and disinformation (especially Electoral Commission-targeted misinformation)
• Political communications (especially the use of online platforms, social media advertising and the rise of the podcast)
• Young people
• Fact checking
• Gender representation and participation

Quotes attributable to Professor Carson:

“Australians are moving away from the two major parties, a long-term trend happening in local politics. One third of voters will be voting for an Independent or for a minor party and we’re not seeing any disruption to this trend.

“The Voice to Parliament, albeit a referendum, provides an interesting case study to political messaging. The No campaign began very early at 12 months out whereas the Yes campaign wasn’t officially launched until August 30, and we voted in October. Voters need to be given time to really think about the key messages that political leaders are putting forward. The simpler those messages are to remember, often the most potency they have. 

“We’ll likely see two streams of argument going forward: micro-targeting where very specific demographics are delivered online advertisements and negative campaigns that push fear, which appear to be much more potent than positive messaging. The Coalition, in particular, will likely try to push fears around migration, cost of living and the idea that Australia could be doing better. This is where I think we’ll see a tactic from the Trump campaign, with Peter Dutton asking the electorate: ‘are you better off than you were three years ago?’ You’ll recall this was similar to a line Trump used."

Emeritus Professor Dennis Altman AM
Vice Chancellor’s Fellow and Professorial Fellow in the Institute for Human Security at La Trobe University

Contact d.altman@latrobe.edu.au or via Jess Whitty (Senior Media Advisor) 0481 383 817

Topic areas:

• What impact will foreign affairs, particularly the actions of the Trump Administration, have on the election?
• Is the rise of antisemitism likely to have a major impact on voting?

Quotes attributable to Professor Altman:

“Trump’s re-election was in part due to a strong sense of grievance, particularly among young men. It remains to be seen whether Peter Dutton will be able to appeal as successfully to people who feel alienated and abandoned by the political system.

“While Labor has pursued a similar response to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to most western democracies, the government is caught between the Liberals and the Greens, both of whom see this as a weakness to attack.”

Professor Nick Bisley
Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of International Relations

Contact: n.bisley@latrobe.edu.au T: +61 (0)3 9479 2692

Topic areas:

• Australian foreign policy and defence policy
• International trade
• Geopolitics

Quotes attributable to Professor Bisley:

“Foreign policy isn’t normally a major issue in federal elections, but the volatility and uncertainty in the world – from the war in Ukraine to Trump’s chaotic first weeks in office – mean this time international issues will be a key electoral battleground.

“Both the ALP and the Coalition will argue that they are better placed to keep Australia secure in dangerous times. How effectively they can prosecute this argument will be key to determining the election outcome.” 

Relevant publications:

Australia needs a new strategy to guide its defence planning (2024).

The Quad, AUKUS and Australian Security Minilateralism: China’s Rise and New Approaches to Security Cooperation (2024). https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2024.2365241

Dr Nicholas Barry
Senior Lecturer in Politics

Contact: n.barry@latrobe.edu.au M: 0418 940 259

Topic areas:

• The key battlegrounds to watch
• Inequality, economic disadvantage and the welfare state
• How local and state results could be reflected on a national scale
• What will be the key election issues that will decide the election?
• Teals and independents – will the surge become a slide?
• Political ideology

Quotes attributable to Dr Barry:

“The current levels of inequality and disadvantage are not inevitable but are strongly shaped by policy decisions. However, the political environment in Australia in recent decades has been hostile towards egalitarian reform, reflecting the dominance of neoliberal ideas, the decline in union membership and the highly targeted nature of the welfare state. 

“Many centre-right parties in long-standing liberal democracies have been challenged by the spread of post-materialist values among an affluent middle-class constituency and a backlash against post-materialism among voters attracted to populism. In Australia, this has created a major ideological and strategic challenge for the Liberal Party, which has given rise to the loss of seats to the Teal independents.”

Natalie McKenna
Lecturer, Communication, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy

Contact n.mckenna@latrobe.edu.au or 0420 378 026.

Topic areas:

• ‘Fresh alternative’ – branding of independent versus traditional party candidates
• Image and politics: How a candidate’s physical and online image is perceived
• How candidates utilise digital platforms to build and promote their personal brands
• The challenges female candidates face in branding and media representation
• The role of authenticity in political branding
• Campaigning through social media

Quotes attributable to Natalie McKenna:

" Trust in the major parties is declining and independents are hoping to connect with voters. Unlike party-aligned politicians who follow strict messaging, independents have the flexibility to craft a brand that highlights their values, community ties and real-world experience, making them appear more relatable and trustworthy. By positioning themselves as a fresh alternative to traditional party politics, they emphasise integrity, accessibility, and grassroots engagement.” 

"We are drawn to leaders who are honest, yet many Australians feel that politicians lack authenticity. Voters are increasingly rejecting political spin in favour of those who speak candidly, stand by their values, and genuinely engage with their communities."

"Female candidates face unique challenges in political branding, often being held to different standards than their male counterparts. From media scrutiny on appearance to biases around leadership styles, women in politics must navigate a complex landscape. To counteract this, they need a strong, authentic personal brand that highlights their expertise, values, and leadership qualities, while challenging outdated stereotypes. Visibility, strategic messaging, and engaging directly with voters on social media can help level the playing field and reshape public perceptions."

Phoebe Hayman
PhD candidate and sessional academic, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy

Contact: p.hayman@latrobe.edu.au M: 0430 131 236

Topic areas:

• How the Independents are shaping politics – whether they win or lose
• From dog bandannas to doorknocks – the novel campaigning activities this election
• Election campaign organisation and technology (databases etc)
• Party members and volunteers

• How are politicians using social media to win voters?
• Party systems
• Misinformation
• What is a political influencer and how are they shaping the election?
• Could this be the first election where Deep Fakes are a threat?
• Interest groups

Quotes attributable to Finley Watson:

“As social media technologies and platform cultures evolve, so too do the means of deceiving users. Political communicators are increasingly able to mislead in ways which do not technically constitute misinformation, though are just as problematic.

“Political influencers are increasingly shaping how voters engage with politics. This is due to their keen awareness of social media communication norms and to growing polarisation and mistrust of traditional media within the electorate.

“Authenticity is the dominant currency of social media communication. As such, politicians are required to carefully and overtly perform this quality to effectively engage with the electorate.”

Associate Professor Madelaine Chiam

Deputy Dean, La Trobe Law School

Contact: m.chiam@latrobe.edu.au

Topic areas:

• Political promises – but how do policies become law?
• The rule of law and democracy in Australia
• Australia’s constitutional system of government

Quotes attributable to Dr Madelaine Chiam:

“Ensuring that the public understands how our system of government works is fundamental to protecting Australian democracy.

“With attacks on the rule of law and the democratic system of the United States occurring almost daily, and the strong possibility that those actions will have an influence in Australia, it is more important than ever that Australian voters understand what is at stake when we vote.”

Professor Bec Strating
Director of La Trobe Asia and Professor of International Relations

Contact: b.strating@latrobe.edu.au M: 0400 287 758

Topic areas:

• Australian Foreign Policy
• International issues

Quotes attributable to Professor Strating:

“While the 2025 federal election looks set to be dominated by the economy and cost of living, global issues that are likely to play a role include the influence of the new Trump administration in the US, climate change, the conflict in Gaza and immigration.” 

Professor Timothy Minchin
Professor of North American History and Graduate Research Coordinator, Department of Archaeology and History

Contact: t.minchin@latrobe.edu.au T: (03) 9479 2376

Topic areas:

• Is it possible to have a successful career in politics with integrity intact?