By Denis Hay
Learn how to vote smarter in 2025, don’t fall for election spin and demand real change in Australia.
Location: A suburban lounge room, late at night.
Jasmine, a 29-year-old nurse in Melbourne, flips between news channels. Politicians talk in circles, waving banners with promises she’s heard before. “I just want to know who’s going to fix things,” she mutters. For Jasmine and millions of others, the 2025 federal election feels like a maze of rhetoric, spin, and hollow soundbites.
In an age of 24/7 media, social media bubbles, and slick political marketing, voters face the daunting task of separating truth from illusion. But making an informed choice is not just possible – it’s essential.
Australians are bombarded with polished advertisements, rehearsed talking points, and fear-based messaging every federal election.
• Slogans like “strong economy” or “tough on borders” mask more profound issues.
• Parties exploit wedge politics to divide voters on race, gender, and class.
• Media conglomerates amplify partisan agendas, narrowing public discourse.
Real-World Example: In 2019, the Coalition’s “death tax” scare campaign misled thousands of voters despite Labor never proposing such a policy.
Thoughts: “I don’t know what to believe anymore,” said Tim, a teacher from Brisbane. “It’s like they’re all selling something, and none of it’s the truth.”
Behind the spin lies a sobering reality: Australians are paying the price for decades of misdirection.
• Aged pensioners struggle to afford rent while corporate tax breaks continue.
• Public hospitals and schools are underfunded, while billions go to defence contracts.
• Young Australians, burdened by HECS debt and insecure work, see few paths forward.
Emotions: Frustration, exhaustion, disillusionment.
A 2024 survey by The Australia Institute found 62% of voters believed the major parties do not stand for ordinary people. This disconnect fosters apathy and entrenches the very power structures voters wish to dismantle.
To reclaim democracy, voters must become investigators – digging past headlines to find facts and vote smarter.
• Check voting records of sitting MPs (https://theyvoteforyou.org.au)
• Read independent platforms like The Conversation, Pearls and Irritations, Punter’s Politics or Michael West Media
• Follow policy analysis groups such as Per Capita or Australia Institute
• Promises without timelines or costings.
• Personal attacks over policy discussion
• Use of fear (e.g., crime waves, refugee influxes)
• Monique Ryan and other Teals have shown that accountability and transparency can shift the needle.
• Community independents bring local voices to Canberra.
• Support policies rooted in the public good, not corporate interest.
Remember, that not all independents or small parties support social justice issues. Make sure you research each candidate in your electorate to make sure what they stand for align with your values.
Location: Your local community centre, where the cracks are showing.
Australia is facing a housing crisis. While major parties support developer-led models, few talk about direct public housing construction using Australia’s currency sovereignty.
Underfunded hospitals and rising out-of-pocket costs reveal the cracks in Medicare. True reform means fully funding public hospitals with public money – not outsourcing services.
Net-zero targets sound promising, but without action on fossil fuel subsidies or emissions caps, they’re just words. Demand policies that prioritise the planet over profits.
Voting in a “safe seat” can feel futile – but it isn’t.
• Use preferences wisely to reward issue-based candidates.
• Join or support grassroots movements in your area.
• Encourage local forums and debates.
Creating marginal electorates forces all parties to listen. In 2022, once-safe seats fell to independents and minor parties due to engaged, informed voting.
Voting should never be a loyalty test – it’s your voice.
• Read deeply, not widely.
• Challenge comfortable narratives.
• Remember: government spending isn’t constrained like a household – it issues the currency. Public services can be fully funded if political will exists.
Your vote can reject spin and demand substance. You can vote smarter.
Q1: How do I know if a candidate is telling the truth?
A: Check their voting history, policy details, and independent analysis. Don’t rely on party websites or biased media.
Q2: Can independents make a difference?
A: Yes. Independents in balance-of-power positions can influence legislation, transparency, and public discourse.
Q3: What does Australia’s currency sovereignty mean for elections?
A: The federal government can afford to fund public services and infrastructure. The barrier isn’t money – it’s political choice.
How do you decide who to vote for – and what issues will shape your choice in 2025?
If you found this article insightful, explore more on political reform and Australia’s monetary sovereignty on Social Justice Australia.
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View Comments
Don't think media has ever been a good source to be informed on policies, especially since long form analysis has been disappeared.
Voters need to read a party's policy platform versus listening/watching glib and staged talking points? Latter does not offer anything substantive, but that's how Australians have been influenced by US style media; fast, glib, infantile, entertaining and preachy.
A real societal and cultural concern, the lost art of asking (open) questions, and especially the issues or policies the media and parties avoid, preferring to keep punters focused on narrow and shallow set of issues and policies.
Neither helps in developing an informed society, nor voting population.
Thanks for your insightful comment, Andrew. You've made important points.
You're right; reliance on mainstream media's simplistic, fast-paced soundbites often leaves voters poorly informed. This media style, heavily influenced by US practices, prioritises entertainment and sensationalism over thoughtful policy discussion.
Reading party policy platforms directly is essential, but voters also need accessible, detailed analysis, which modern media often neglects. Encouraging open questioning, critical thinking, and deeper exploration of complex issues is vital if we want a genuinely informed electorate.
Your point underscores precisely why it is crucial to support and engage with independent media and sources committed to comprehensive, transparent analysis of policies and their societal impacts.
Thanks again for your valuable contribution!