We spoke to Australians at the start and end of the campaign. Here’s what changed

After four leaders’ debates, more than one political slip-up and countless policy announcements over a gruelling election campaign, most of our undecided voters have made up their minds as polling day looms and are turning away from the major two parties.

Alexandra Nash is a nurse and lives in the seat of Wentworth. She said she had noticed quite a few “malicious” signs like ‘Don’t let the teal trick you’. “There’s been a lot of conflict around … people will do what it takes to put others down to get their vote. I think it only reflects badly on the person who’s provoking them.”Credit: Wolter Peeters

At the start of the campaign, we spoke to more than a dozen undecided voters in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland to gauge what everyday Australians saw as the real issues and what they made of their leaders, just as politicians started to really hit the trail.

We got back in touch with them a week before the May 3 polls. Most had made their decision, many reiterating a loss of faith in the two main political parties and some opting to vote for a minor party or independent.

Some, like nurse Alexandra Nash, 34, had joined the record numbers of Australians voting early. On Thursday, figures from the Australian Electoral Commission showed more than 4.8 million people had already lodged a pre-poll vote, or almost 26.5 per cent of the 18.1 million people on the electoral roll.

Liam Borbas is a heritage consultant living in the electorate of Bullwinkel. He was originally keen to vote Labor but will now vote Greens.

“I made a decision with what aligned with what was important to me at this stage. That was the independents,” said Nash, who lives in the Wentworth electorate in NSW.

Liam Borbas, 26, lives in the newly created federal seat of Bullwinkel – a key battleground in Perth where the Liberals, Labor and Nationals are all vying for control.

Disillusioned with the major parties, Borbas has wrestled with where to place his vote. “My mind has been bouncing back and forth between these two major parties and … thinking, ‘well, it’s one or the other and I don’t really like either of them all that much’,” Borbas said.

“It’s kind of just brought me on to the mentality that, well, I don’t actually have to vote for them and I think my vote will be better suited going with a minor, independent party. I’m going to vote for the Greens in this election after all.”

Jacquie McLean, 39, lives in the marginal NSW seat of Gilmore. The single parent, who had ruled out voting for Labor, has changed her mind after being unimpressed by Liberal campaign material.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Borbas is not alone in reassessing his political allegiances. Across the country, voters are weighing their discontent against practicality as they prepare to cast their ballots.

In the marginal seat of Gilmore, 39-year-old social assistance worker Jacquie McLean described the challenges she was facing as a single parent in West Nowra. Initially ruling out Labor due to disappointment with her local MP, she ultimately changed her mind after reviewing campaign materials, concluding that Labor was the better of two bad options.

“The only thing that’s been popping up in the ads is [Peter] Dutton. And I think from watching those, it’s deterred me away from him,” she said. “Anthony Albanese, I suppose, has tried to save the economy.”

For Marlee Conlan, 29, a high school music teacher from Woodend in the Victorian electorate of McEwen, the decision is just as complicated. Like many, she’s uninspired by the two major parties.

“I’ve just kind of lost faith in the big two parties. I’m probably aiming for a hung parliament, if anything, because ... if I had to choose from the big two, I’d definitely be leading towards Labor, but I don’t think they’re the best option, to be honest,” she said.

Marlee Conlan, 29, is a high school music teacher from Woodend in the electorate of McEwen.Credit: Justin McManus

“I’m putting Legalise Cannabis Party first, not necessarily because of the legalise cannabis [aspect], but like, literally everything else ... cost of living, housing, energy, education, climate, health, integrity.”

Conlan’s sentiment reflects the broader trend in electorates across the country where voters are searching for alternatives that align with personal values and pressing concerns of everyday Australians.

Meanwhile, in Tuesday’s latest Resolve Political Monitor conducted for this masthead by Resolve Strategic, Australians have given Labor a clear lead over the Coalition putting the government ahead by 53 to 47 per cent in two-party terms despite new signs of pressure on its primary vote.

The exclusive results show that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cemented his lead over Dutton as preferred prime minister – ahead by 47 to 31 per cent – in a dramatic turnaround from surveys in January and February showing that voters had swung to the opposition leader.

The results show that support for the Greens has risen 1 per cent to 14 per cent and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has risen by the same amount to 7 per cent.

Support for independent candidates has fallen in national terms since the last Resolve survey two weeks ago, but it is stronger in NSW, Victoria and Queensland when compared with surveys taken at the last election.

The undecided voters we interviewed were recruited and provided an incentive through Resolve Strategic. They were screened to ensure they lived in the seats that could help decide the 2025 election outcome, were not fully committed in their vote choice, and did not work in an occupation that would give them special insight into the election. Here’s what they said.

Anna Deakin, 22

Anna Deakin, 22 lives in Queensland’s Griffith electorate.

Griffith electorate in Queensland, nursing assistant, student and retail worker.

Voting stance: Voted early, preferencing the Greens.

“It’s been interesting to see the ads change with the Liberal campaign. I’ve seen a lot more to do with the cost of living and bringing fuel prices down, when previously … I hadn’t seen any of that. I ended up doing it [voting] early, the other day … I feel like there has been an exponential increase in the number of campaigners outside of the voting centres, which was really interesting to see.”

Scott Reeves, 59

Scott Reeves lives in the seat of Robertson in NSW.

Lives in Kariong in the electorate of Robertson, NSW. TAFE teacher, home owner who lives with partner and adult children.

Voting stance: Undecided at the start of the campaign and is considering an independent candidate or Labor.

“[Peter Dutton] came out and made two fairly significant policy statements and then backed out of them completely … if you’ve had four years to prepare for an election, it doesn’t fill you full of confidence.”

“They’ve both come out with very similar takes on housing. Having worked in that industry for most of my life … we don’t have the ability to meet any of the targets either party are talking about. There’s just not enough tradesmen.

“I’d rather see [tax] go to some purpose rather than give it back to me. If you don’t want it, then don’t tax me. But if you’re going to tax me, then use it. Use it for something that benefits my kids, my grandkids, my great-grandkids in the future.”

Steven Kater, 63

Lives in Bondi in NSW’s Wentworth electorate, business owner, single.

Voting stance: formerly Liberal voter, will preference One Nation, then Liberal.

“I still like … Pauline Hanson. I haven’t changed in that view. Because I just think these people are Australians. They seem like they know what’s going on … whoever gets in, they’ll pressurise them to be very careful of normal Australian people.

Steven Kater will be voting for One Nation.

“It could be a hung parliament. And what I’m worried about, and it did come out of when I was watching the [leaders’] debate … Mr Dutton did say to Mr Albanese, ‘will the Greens give you the first vote?’

“I’m worried about small business, with the tax cuts … I would have liked to see talk ... about Israel and Gaza, what they’re going to do there because that’s still very [important] and Ukraine too.”

Tony Cheng, 48

Brisbane, Queensland, Lives in Summer Hill, lawyer, single (mortgage-holder), shares home with parents.

Tony Cheng, 48, is still undecided.

Voting stance: still undecided.

“The promises of the election platforms and commitments they were putting out there … if you’re really stuck in that middle – that’s probably popping the whole thing up – you’re not really getting much from it … other than the fuel excise, I suppose. It’s not like in the last six months [Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton] suddenly stepped up to become a person that we don’t know they are … their presentation and the level of confidence that they instil in all of us that hasn’t changed. I might as well flip a coin on the day. There’s news in the lead-up, so there’s time. I’ll just go in and look a bit closer at what their policy platforms are, and maybe make a judgment on that.”

Kenneth Ralston, 31

Kenneth Ralston has not changed his mind and will be voting Liberal.

Lives in Berwick in the Victorian electorate of Bruce. Single, car parts salesman.

Voting status: Likely Liberal voter, which he has always leant towards.

“I still sort of feel leaning towards Liberal, but I do feel Liberals maybe made a bit of a mess of it since we probably last spoke a few weeks ago ... and I feel a bit stuck with it. You’re not going to fix everything by spending more and overspending ... you’re not going to get anywhere. You need to cut it. You need to reduce it.”

Adrian Hill, 50

Lives in Croydon North in Victorian electorate of Deakin. Technical manager for a chemical manufacturing company.

Adrian Hill will be voting for an independent.

Voting status: Will vote local independent after leaning Liberal earlier in the campaign.

“If I was to go for either of the majors, I would have now switched. I would go for Albanese. However, the reality is ... neither of them are getting my vote. I suppose I’ve done a little more research on my local candidate ... Michael Sukkar, and I’ve been less than impressed with him during the course of this election campaign ... and as much as I could easily go for a major or put someone else there, I think an independent is the right thing to do.”

George Semertzidis, 57

George Smertzidis says for him the biggest issues would be housing affordability and cost of living.

Lives in Victoria’s McEwen electorate. Textiles director, married.

Voting stance: Originally keen on independents, remains unsure.

“I want to vote for an independent or the minor parties because we’ve been 15 years in politics without bipartisan support. When it matters, we don’t get that bipartisan support and I feel that independents might close that gap and force the major parties to come to the table on issues that are important to the country.”

John Nolan, 55

John Nolan changed his mind.

Lives in the Chisholm electorate in Victoria, is a single, warehouse storeman.

Voting stance: Originally leaned towards Dutton, has voted for Albanese.

“I really do like strong leaders but I think Albanese’s more calming and I like what he wants to do better than what Dutton wants to do. They’re both good leaders in their own way and I don’t know if Australia’s ready for a change that probably Dutton will give us.”

Andy Hannan, 42

Andy Hannan will be voting for an independent.

Lives in NSW’s Bradfield electorate. Building manager.

Voting stance: intends to vote for independent candidate Nicolette Boele, ALP second, Greens third, will be postal voting.

“There’s a lot more visibility in the streets. There’s more posters, more people at pedestrian zones, transport hubs … I think we’ve had some like information leaflets, as well, come through the mail. Overall, I think it’s pretty positive. It seems to be just like I remember from previous political campaigns, there’s a lot of promises and money thrown around, and I think for me, where I’m at the stage of my life, that’s good. There’s a lot on offer for me from the main political parties.”

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