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What students should know about the Federal Elections in 2025 in Australia, compared to other nations like USA or Britain or China or France.

Outcome still open, as counting continues, however landslide victory of Anthony Albanese (Labour) is secured.

International reactions interpret this victory (like the Canadian outcome) as an anti Trump result, as the opposition leader Peter Dutton has used Trump rhetorics and wanted new nuclear power plants plus stopping the renewables and use more coal.

Here’s a breakdown of how elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives differ in Australia:

1. House of Representatives Election (Lower House)

• Seats: 151 (one per electorate, based on population distribution)
• Voting System: Preferential voting (voters rank candidates in order), for instance 1 to 6.
• Winner: The candidate with an absolute majority (over 50% of votes after preferences) wins the seat.
• Government Formation: The party (or coalition) with a majority of seats forms government.
• Election Cycle: Every three years, though early elections can occur.

2. Senate Election (Upper House)

• Seats: 76 (12 per state, 2 per territory)
• Voting System: Proportional representation (voters rank parties or candidates)
• Winner: Seats are allocated based on vote share, ensuring a mix of major and minor parties.
• Government Formation: The Senate does not form government but plays a major role in reviewing laws.
• Election Cycle: Half the Senate is elected every three years, except for territories, which vote at every federal election.

Key Differences in Elections

Feature House of Representatives Senate Seats 151 (electorate-based) 76 (state-based) Voting System Preferential voting Proportional voting Majority Needed? Yes, to form government No, representation is spread Election Timing Every 3 years Half the Senate elected every 3 years

The voting systems reflect each chamber’s purpose—one elects the government (House of Representatives), while the other ensures diverse representation and scrutiny (Senate).

Anthony Albanese against Peter Dutton (2 Party System)

A landslide victory for Labor in Australia means the party has won a large majority of seats in the House of Representatives, often securing government with minimal opposition resistance. This occurs when Labor gains a significant margin of votes, dominating both first-preference counts and preference distributions.

Effects on Crossbenchers

A landslide victory impacts crossbenchers in several ways:

1. Reduced Influence – If Labor holds a comfortable majority, crossbench MPs and Senators may lose bargaining power, as the government doesn’t need their support to pass legislation.
2. Policy Impact – A strong Labor majority means policy direction is largely set by Labor, potentially sidelining crossbench priorities unless they align with the government.
3. Survival & Strategy – Minor party and independent crossbenchers may shift their political positions, adjust their messaging, or form stronger alliances to remain relevant.

However, in the Senate, where proportional representation allows for more crossbenchers, they can still wield influence over legislation, especially if Labor doesn’t hold an outright majority.

Labour might wain 90 seats, more than ever before!

Counting still continues, though.

Independents and Teal candidates (often referring to centrist, climate-focused independents) can win Senate seats despite Australia’s dominant two-party system. Here’s how:

1. Proportional Representation Helps Smaller Candidates

• Senate elections use a proportional voting system, meaning seats are distributed based on vote share rather than a simple majority.
• Unlike the House of Representatives, where major parties usually dominate, the Senate allows independents to win without needing a majority of votes across the whole state.

2. High-Profile Campaigning & Voter Recognition

• Teal candidates often win by running on clear policy platforms, like climate action and political integrity.
• Strong media presence and grassroots engagement help independent candidates build recognition.

3. Preference Deals & Vote Transfers

• Even if an independent candidate doesn’t get enough votes initially, they can benefit from preference distributions from minor parties and disillusioned voters from major parties.
• Some independents strategically negotiate preferences to boost their vote count.

4. Targeting Key Senate Quotas

• To win, independents need to reach a quota, calculated as: \frac{\text{Total Votes}}{\text{Seats Available + 1}}
• This means they need around 14.3% of votes in a full-Senate election or about 7.7% in a half-Senate election (for a state-based seat).
• If they don’t reach this outright, vote transfers from eliminated candidates can push them over the line.

5. State-Based Strength

• Since Senate seats are allocated state-wide, independents don’t need to win an individual electorate—just a strong enough voter base in their state.
• High-profile independents from Victoria, NSW, and WA have been successful because of strong local movements.

Recent Examples

• Candidates like David Pocock (ACT), Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania), and various Teal independents have secured Senate seats by leveraging grassroots support, strategic preference flows, and policy appeal.

So, while major parties still hold the majority of seats, the Senate remains one of the best avenues for independents and Teal candidates to influence national policy.

Independent Candidates outside the two major parties Labour (red) and Coalition (blue):

The Teals are a group of independent candidates in Australian politics who are often associated with progressive policies, particularly on climate action, integrity in government, and gender equality. The term “Teal” comes from their campaign colors, which blend elements of blue (traditionally linked to the Liberal Party) and green (symbolizing environmental focus).

Who Are the Teals?

• Teal candidates are not officially a political party, but rather a movement of centrist independents.
• They typically challenge Liberal Party incumbents in urban, affluent electorates.
• Their support base includes voters who are disillusioned with major parties, particularly those who feel the Liberal Party is too conservative or slow on climate policy.

Key Characteristics of Teals

1. Climate Action – Strong advocacy for faster reductions in carbon emissions and renewable energy.
2. Political Integrity – Calls for stronger anti-corruption measures and transparency.
3. Social Equality – Support for women’s representation and diverse leadership.

Teals in Parliament

• Several Teal independents won seats in the 2022 Australian federal election, defeating long-time Liberal strongholds.
• The movement has gained influence, particularly in the House of Representatives, where they hold key seats.

Teals represent a shift in Australian politics, challenging the traditional two-party system and offering voters a more issue-driven, centrist alternative.

Alice Price is a Gold Coast local and High School Teacher.

The Nation Liberal Candidate Leon Rebello will try to gain the former Karen Andrew safe Coalition seat for McPherson at the Gold Coast, where Labour has never ever won the Senate Seat.

Census Explorer Australia – Population and Immigration and more numbers to explore.

Linked

Examples only:

4% have German Ancestors

40% have no religion marked at Census

20% Catholics

10% Anglican