Voter Verdict: 2025 Federal Election analysis by everyday Australians
Undecided voters in key seats believe Anthony Albanese’s tax cuts are a joke and others are divided on Peter Dutton migration policy saying the leaders are so far unconvincing. See the video.
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Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have failed to convince undecided Australians that they have what it takes to ease the cost of living as the federal election campaign kicks off.
Making ends meet is the most important issue for undecided voters in News Corp’s Voter Verdict panel but many said Mr Albanese’s income tax cuts and Mr Dutton’s fuel excise tax cuts won’t go far enough.
WATCH THEIR BLUNT ANALYSIS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE.
Overall the panel members are largely unimpressed with the leaders’ pitches to the nation and have questioned whether Labor’s tax cut, which equates to extra $5 a week, would help them pay the bills.
This group of everyday Australians will share their honest, no-holds-barred opinions in videos during the federal election campaign.
Pollster Redbridge has selected members of our panel of all ages, lifestyles, professions and political interests.
Resident Rebecca Free, 51, in the electorate of Lyons, labelled Albanese’s tax cuts “a bit of a joke”.
“I think just everything, you know, grocery prices and things like private health insurance, and just everyday costs is a huge killer for me,” Ms Free said.
Migration is also shaping up to be a hot topic and its impact on housing and jobs with Aaron Teboneras, 41, in the electorate of Moncrieff agreeing with Mr Dutton’s promise to reduce migrant numbers.
He said cutting immigration numbers down was a “big factor” for him.
“A lot of immigrants are coming into Australia and I just feel that like you know, it’s putting stress on the services here,” he said.
Mr Teboneras said he wanted to vote for a strong, decisive leader who made Australia safe.
“We need a leader like Donald Trump. We need someone who’s strong, who’s not afraid to take action.”
But Muhammad Ahmad Ashraf, 39, from the Forde electorate said Australia needed immigration to ease staff shortages in professional trade.
“My views are that we should be inducting people, we should let the migration happen in the areas where it is required,” he said.
Both leaders certainly have their work cut out for them to win over voters who also said they don’t trust either.
Holt electorate resident Brett Terry, 56, said he was “not convinced” either leader would uphold their promises.
“Simply based on past evidence, I am not completely convinced at all,” Mr Terry said.
Makin electorate resident Denzel James, 19, said questioned if cheap fuel would help all Australians.
He said many young people couldn’t afford to buy a car would not benefit from the petrol bowser relief.
“How would it benefit us if we don’t drive?” Mr James said.
Housing pressure was felt across the country with Dinesh Nagappan Anitha from Blacktown in Sydney’s western suburbs and mum-of-four Karen Treloar from Basin Pocket in Queensland listing as one of their key election issues.
“I want my kids to grow and, you know, to be able to have their own home, to have the independence, to learn and to work and know that they are supported by our communities, by our government,” Ms Treloar said.
Defence spending and the “frightening” state of global affairs was top of mind for Gail McIntyre, 63, a retiree from Mountain Creek on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
“I’d like to see more emphasis on keeping Australians safe. I believe we need to spend more money on our national security in light of what’s happening in the world,”she said.
Despite being one of the Coalition’s signature policies, views were divided on Mr Dutton’s plans to build nuclear power plants across Australia.
Mr Teboneras backed nuclear energy as “extremely vital for the country moving forward” but Ms Treloar, also from Queensland and Julie-anne Perich from Kalangadoo, South Australia were both unsure of nuclear energy.
“I am not sold on nuclear energy. I just don’t see how safe it’s going to be. I really don’t understand it. I really don’t think it’s a good fit for Australia,” Ms Perich said.
Among some of the younger members of the Voter Verdict, mental health also emerged as a key issue.
Emily Cookson, a 24-year-old student from Kellyville in Sydney said there was a “mental health crisis” in Australia that needed to be addressed at this election.
“I’m a very big mental health advocate, and I really do hope that I can work in this space in the future.”
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