Crikey's Electioncast - a daily Australian federal election podcast

In the final episode of Electioncast for 2025, Crystal Andrews and political editor Bernard Keane dissect the latest political plot twist: the end of the Coalition. While it’s not the first time the Nats and Libs have been on-again, off-again, the effects will be felt by everyone – even those who have never, and would never, vote for them.Plus, Bernard reflects on his journalistic process in the aftermath of a result that proved many commentators’ theories wrong.Make sure you subscribe to this feed for more Crikey podcasts coming soon!Read more:History shows Coalition split a trial separation, not a divorceEnd of the Coalition is a win-win for Sussan Ley and the NationalsAlbanese solved the Trump problem from the orthodox left. So what do the Liberals do now?The departure of the Nats is far from the end of the Liberals’ problems (hint: it’s themselves)

Surprise, Electioncast is back! In this bonus episode, Crystal Andrews and associate editor Cam Wilson dissect the campaign antics of right-wing lobby group Advance, who spent millions in advertising against progressive MPs like the Greens’ Max Chandler-Mather and independent Zoe Daniel. Advance is celebrating the loss of key Greens seats as proof of its influence, but how much of an impact did it really have? We analyse the group’s strategy and spend against the election result. Read all of Cam’s analysis of the Advance campaign:How Advance’s anti-Greens campaign backfired and helped elect a progressive ParliamentTwo sexual assault accusers say right-wing group Advance ‘weaponised’ their claims without their consentAnti-vaccine ‘freedom movement’ stars actively organising for Liberal-backed Advance group

Well, that sure was something! In this post-election episode, Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews discuss why this resounding Labor win by Anthony Albanese is so unique in Australian politics, review what the polls (and Electioncast!) got wrong, and speculate about what’s next for a dazed and confused Coalition. Then Anton Nilsson  shares the insights he gleaned from voters in Dickson and the deflated Liberal HQ party in Brisbane after witnessing Peter Dutton’s farewell speech, and Rachel Withers takes stock of how the new crossbench is shaping up.Read more:It wasn’t just Trump: Albanese built this remarkable victory himselfLiberals followed Dutton into unfamiliar territory. And he led them off a cliffThe Liberals drowned their sorrows at the wake with a soaring rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. Dickson had sealed their fate.The crossbench has shifted. Our interactive table shows the state of playForget the lower house, the game-changing shift could be Senate’s tilt to the leftThank you for listening to the 2025 season of Electioncast! For full access to Crikey’s independent political commentary and analysis, subscribe now.

We’re at the pointy end now, and an astonishing poll is predicting a whopping Labor majority. Can that really be right?Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers’ editor Crystal Andrews discuss the final YouGov poll of the campaign, and what the growing support of Pauline Hanson and One Nation means for the next parliament – and the future of Australian politics. Then, media reporter Daanyal Saeed catches us up on some juicy tips from Dutton’s campaign bus.Read more:Will Pauline Hanson be a kingmaker?Teals will prevail amid Coalition bloodbath if latest poll bears outJim Chalmers has nuked Labor’s economic credibility — and Wayne Swan’s fiscal legacyFrom ‘hate media’ to ‘lock him up’, Dutton’s Trump tribute act is still reliably playing the hitsTips: Dynasties deluxe, Dutton hates his bus people, and we are all TIREDGot a tip for us? Contact us on Signal CRIKEY.01 or send a tip here.Want to share your thoughts on the election? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au

Underneath the noisy narratives of the big election fight between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, there are individual, very tight contests taking place in battleground seats. It’s in these electorates that Australia’s next government could be decided. Crikey associate editor Cam Wilson and readers’ editor Crystal Andrews reveal how major parties use your personal data in highly-targeted political ads to sway the election result. Then editor Alisha Rouse and politics reporter Anton Nilsson discuss what’s at play in three key seats: Curtin in Perth, a litmus test for teals and Liberals; Gilmore in NSW, Labor’s most marginal; and the unexpected fight for Berowra, proving there is no such thing as a safe seat. Read more:Parties have a lot of valuable data about you. In fact, they’ve put an actual price on itSmall-business owners, parents, volunteers: Who are parties micro-targeting this election?‘Predicted Chinese’, ‘predicted Jewish’: Liberals accidentally leave voter-tracking data exposedThe 2025 election is our most opaque yet because big tech doesn’t want to be held responsibleCan the 2022 ‘teal’ incumbents ward off their Liberal challengers?Could Berowra be in play? Leeser campaign dismisses any turn to tealGot a tip for us? Contact us on Signal CRIKEY.01 or send a tip here.Want to share your thoughts on the election? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au 

Labor and the Coalition agree with voters: this is the housing election. But despite making headline-grabbing housing policy a focus of their official campaign launches, both parties' plans have been criticised by... pretty much everyone.Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews unpack the policy promises, and ask why politicians refuse to address the problem at the heart of Australia’s housing crisis (no, it’s not immigration).Then editor-in-chief Sophie Black reveals why Crikey is running for parliament alongside 'Crikey for PM' campaign manager, our own Charlie Lewis. Plus, will women, once again, hold the deciding vote on May 3?Read more:Is this the worst election campaign ever?Struggling renters are all but invisible this electionThe eye-watering numbers that paint a picture of a journalism industry propped up by real estate cashRussia-Indonesia debacle reveals Australia is racist and incompetent in the face of a new global orderIs Peter Dutton aware that women… can vote?Crikey for PMCrikey for PM makes a corfluteGot a tip for us? Contact us on Signal CRIKEY.01 or send a tip here.Want to share your thoughts on the election? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au

Peter Dutton’s flopping, and Labor has surged ahead in the most recent polls. Does this kill the prospect of any kind of minority government?Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews discuss why Anthony Albanese’s fortunes appear to have changed so quickly, and if NSW Labor’s response to the historic NSW doctor’s strike is damaging federal Labor’s health credentials.Despite the polls, our columnist Rachel Withers explains why independents are still the ones to watch, and media reporter Daanyal Saeed reveals the jaw-dropping cost of getting on the campaign bus.Read more:Bernard's controversial article: From the edge of victory to the jaws of defeat, Dutton hits the panic buttonReader reply: I’m a NSW doctor. Striking is our only option in an unsafe hospital systemRachel's columns Forget the Frontbench and Well HungLabor pains: Meet the local independents trying to unseat Labor MPsGreen shoots: Has the return of Trump given the minor party its mojo back?On the campaign trail: How small media players are iced outGot a tip for us? Contact us on Signal CRIKEY.01 or send a tip here.Want to share your thoughts on the election? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au

It took six days into the federal election campaign for Donald Trump to throw his first grenade. The US President’s “Liberation Day” tariffs have put the world on the brink of a global trade war and ramped up the pressure on the major parties to pitch a clear path forward.Crikey politics editor Bernard Keane and readers editor Crystal Andrews discuss what the US tariffs mean for the election, Anthony Albanese’s response, and how the announcement has undermined the start of Peter Dutton’s campaign.Then politics reporter Anton Nilsson and Tips & Murmurs editor Charlie Lewis talk pork barreling and campaign gossip.Read more:Dutton has flirted pathetically with Trump. On ‘Liberation Day’, the honeymoon is over.Albanese brings a protectionism popgun to Trump’s trade war trenches. It won’t save usThe who’s who of Australia’s security sector are saying the quiet part out loudThis little piggy: We’re mapping the election’s pork-barrellingCorflutes, Craig Kelly, curry pies: Welcome to our spicy election-edition Tips and MurmursHow to tip-off Crikey: Heard something weird? Seen something amusing? Want to take someone down? We’re here to help!Got a tip for us? Contact us on Signal CRIKEY.01 or send a tip here.Want to share your thoughts on the election? Send an email to letters@crikey.com.au

Crikey's Electioncast is back! Every Friday throughout the 2025 federal election campaign, we'll bring you political analysis that cuts through the spin.