In the final episode of the series, your hosts dive deep into the surprising 2025 election results, unpacking the strategic missteps, political shifts, and missed opportunities that defined this electoral cycle. With a sharp focus on the Liberal, Labor, and Greens parties, the discussion explores the impact of negative campaigning, the rise of third parties, and how political context shaped voter behaviour. This wrap-up offers insights into what political parties must learn moving forward to remain relevant in an evolving democratic landscape.

Hard Labour wins in 2025!

Connect with us:

Annie O’Rourke
Dr. Rachel Howard
Larissa Brown

Rebecca Huntley

Links:
89 Degrees East

Politiv

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The election outcome shocked and disappointed many voters.

• Past electoral lessons—especially from 2022—weren’t applied effectively.

• The Coalition's rightward shift alienated sections of the electorate.

• The Greens failed to connect with voters on pivotal issues.

• Campaigns lacked alignment with the real-time political context.

• Accurate polling remains essential for campaign resource planning.

• Negative ads failed to deliver wins for third-party candidates.

• Despite challenges, the Greens gained power with 11 Senate seats.

• Future political strategies must prioritise diversity, inclusion, and voter trust.

• There's growing potential for cross-party collaboration in a rebalanced parliament.

⏱️ Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 – Reflecting on Election Results

• 05:37 – Analysing Campaign Strategies

• 10:20 – The Role of Political Context

• 15:57 – Impact of Third Parties and Negative Campaigning

• 20:49 – Future Directions for Political Parties

• 29:05 – Final Thoughts and Reflections

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In this episode, we dive deep into the personal and professional stories behind Australian Election Day. Our hosts reflect on what it means to participate in democracy, recounting the energy, pressure, and unpredictability of the big day. From the buzz of the tally room to navigating election logistics in the campaign’s final week, this episode explores the emotional and strategic layers of a national vote. You'll also hear insights into polling accuracy, voter behaviour, and the growing challenge of reaching soft voters in a changing political landscape.

Connect with us:

Annie O’Rourke
Dr. Rachel Howard
Larissa Brown

Rebecca Huntley

Links:
89 Degrees East

Politiv

Key Takeaways:

• Democracy is a privilege, celebrated through shared experiences and stories.

• Election day often brings unexpected challenges—and camaraderie among staffers.

• The tally room is the heart of election night drama and anticipation.

• Understanding and scrutinising polling trends remains critical.

• Soft voters can swing results, making last-minute persuasion efforts essential.

• Successful campaigns rely on nimble election logistics, especially in the final week.

• Personal reflections on election night reveal the emotional toll of political work.

• Accurate reading of voter behavior is vital for both strategy and expectation management.

Chapter Breakdown:
00:00 – Celebrating Democracy: Election Day Stories
05:04 – The Tally Room Experience: Highs and Lows
11:05 – Understanding Polls: Trust and Trends
18:23 – The Impact of Soft Voters
24:57 – Navigating Election Logistics: Final Week Strategies
30:56 – Preparing for Election Night: Personal Reflections

Keywords: election day, democracy, political stories, polling, voter behavior, election logistics, tally room, soft voters, election night

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Australia is heading to the polls and the political battleground is more crowded than ever. In this episode, we unpack how parties are using digital campaigning, micro‑targeted political ads and social‑media influencers to sway undecided voters. From pre‑poll booths to TikTok feeds, find out what’s working, what isn’t, and what every strategist should know before Election Day.

Connect with us:
Annie O’Rourke
Dr. Rachel Howard
Larissa Brown

Erinn Swan

Links:
89 Degrees East
Politiv

Key Takeaways

1. Media saturation after Pope Francis’s death will drown out routine campaign coverage, so parties need messages that cut through a dominated news cycle.

2. Pre‑poll is king. Candidates should spend most face‑time where early votes are cast; over half of Australians now vote before Election Day.

3. Digital ad production is near‑instant, allowing rapid A/B testing and daily pivots—agility beats long‑lead TV spots.

4. Influencers shape political narratives for Gen Z and Millennials; authentic creator partnerships outperform party‑branded content.

5. Cost‑of‑living frames dominate ad‑targeting, turning pocket‑book pain into votes via hyper‑local creatives.

6. Fear and grievance remain powerful motivators; negative emotion still drives click‑throughs and shares.

7. Authenticity beats polish. Raw, conversational clips win trust while over‑produced videos read as propaganda.

8. Data‑driven flexibility is essential; polling shifts mean creatives must refresh every 48 hours.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Political Chaos
02:56 – Navigating the Election Landscape
13:25 – The Evolution of Digital Campaigning
27:21 – The Role of Influencers in Politics

🔖politics, Australian election, digital campaigning, influencers, political ads, voter engagement, social media strategy, political communication, election strategy Australia, voter sentiment analysis, cost‑of‑living messaging, micro‑targeting, pre‑poll tactics, political strategy podcast, political influencers Australia

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