Week 6: 2025 Election Wrap and What’s Next
May 8, 2025
Australia woke to a landslide Labor win and the re-election of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. As the dust settles, political and policy watchers are unpacking what it means for the country’s future. Cube’s Founder and MD, Anne-Marie Sparrow reflects on the result within the final Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA) Pulse Report.
A landslide no-one predicted!
Reviewing the news and social media reports of last week – feels firmly now in the past following the historical events of the weekend.
While there was a sense from the media, in the final days of campaigning that Dutton’s approach had ‘missed the mark’ on many levels – no-one had predicted Saturday’s result. A landslide win for Labour and the collapse of the Liberal party. Albo becoming the first PM to win back-to-back elections in 20 years, while for the Coalition it was the worse result for a major party since 1949.
Live TV a spectacle to behold
It took everyone by surprise. Witnessing the result unfold on live TV Saturday night brought all the drama and stressful energy of a Succession episode! The commentary became tense and heated among the political panellists as Labour’s victory became clear. It even felt slightly surreal – as Channel 9 dunked an image of Dutton into their Dunk Tank – as he became the first Federal Opposition Leader in history to lose his seat!
The Greens are also casualties with Adam Bandt’s future political career now in the balance. With 12 seats still to be finalised, the count is currently 88 seats to Labour, just 40 to the Coalition, 8 to the Independents and no clear seats for the Greens.
Post-election analysis cutting deep
No surprise the postmortem media reporting has been even more entertaining than the campaign editorials. The analysis and criticism are cutting deep. Dutton’s campaign at best is being described as ‘deaf to the community’, Trumponian, and heavily focussed on grievance politics. While Albo is being presented as organised, in touch and with clear cost of living policies.
Misinformation presented by the Polls, misguided media reporting and declining power of the Murdoch press is now being heavily scrutinised. There is a sense this story is going to be a gift that keeps giving.
But what is clear, is we have witnessed is an historical Australian election that will be referenced for decades to come and become a clear reference point for those in politics. It’s setting a new political chapter for the country – but also what feels like a new era in how media will be viewed and respected. There is much more to come – so keep watching!
