By Denis Hay
Political Change in Australia. The two-party system blocks social justice. Discover how meaningful political change is possible – and what voters can do now to shift power.
Picture this: It’s election night in Australia. You’re watching the results roll in – again. Familiar faces, recycled promises, and little hope for genuine change. A sigh escapes as you recall the past decades: increasing inequality, privatised essential services, environmental inaction, and corporate influence on policy. Your neighbour lost his job last year. Your granddaughter can’t afford rent. And all you hear from Canberra is spin.
This cycle of disappointment isn’t just bad luck. It’s the product of a broken political system – one dominated by two major parties that serve the same entrenched interests. If you’re wondering why social justice in Australia always feels just unreachable, it’s time to understand why the two-party system is holding us back – and how we can break free.
In 2022, over $100 million was poured into Australia’s political campaigns – much of it from undisclosed sources. Corporate donors fund both major parties, securing favourable policies in return.
“It’s like choosing between Coke and Pepsi,” says Melbourne-based teacher Karen Hughes. “Different branding, same ingredients – corporate interests first.”
From fossil fuel subsidies to privatisation contracts, both the ALP and LNP often align where it matters most: protecting wealth and power. It’s time to think about political change in Australia.
Remember when Labor promised to support welfare recipients? Then backtracked. Or when the Coalition promised housing affordability – yet property investors got richer?
This isn’t dysfunction – it’s design. With both major parties beholden to the same economic ideologies, real alternatives are systematically shut out.
Six corporations own 90% of Australia’s media, including Murdoch’s News Corp, which heavily influences political narratives. Independents are often ignored or vilified. Debate is stifled. Truth becomes optional.
That student is now 45, a nurse, a single mum. She stares at her balance: “$38,000 still to go.” “How will I ever own a home?” she wonders.
Multiply her by millions. Australia is now a country where:
• 1 in 6 children live in poverty.
• Renters are paying 60% of their income on shelter.
Key Findings:
• Public health waitlists stretch for months.
Yet parliament debates tax cuts for the top 20%.
This isn’t mismanagement. It’s a deliberate system of exclusion. And the longer we wait for the two major parties to fix it, the more damage they do.
Neoliberalism promotes privatisation, deregulation, and austerity. It’s baked into both major parties’ policies.
We need a shift towards public-first economics. That starts with recognising Australia’s monetary sovereignty. As the issuer of its own currency, Australia is never financially constrained. The limit is political will – not dollars.
Learn more: Modern Monetary Theory in Australia
Most Australians don’t know how the economy actually works – or how political donations distort outcomes. Education campaigns, community forums, and alternative media like (Social Justice Australia) can shift this.
• Community assemblies: Citizens collaborating on local governance.
• People-powered candidates: Independents with grassroots support.
• Policy platforms: Centred on justice, not donors.
Real change doesn’t start in parliament. It starts at your kitchen table.
In Warringah and Indi, independents won against the odds. Why? Voters organised, door-knocked, and challenged the system.
Safe seats allow complacency. But when every vote counts, politicians listen.
The next federal election could see the LNP return to power – not because voters support their policies, but because of frustration with Labor’s failure to deliver meaningful change.
To avoid this, Australians must strategically vote for independents and minor parties who represent their values. Every independent elected reduces the major parties’ stranglehold.
Recent polling data indicates a tightly contested landscape between the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Liberal-National Coalition (LNP) as the federal election approaches. The latest Newspoll reveals a national two-party-preferred split favouring the Coalition at 51-49%. Similarly, a YouGov poll from March 21, 2025, shows an even 50-50 split between the two major parties.
Despite these figures, the Coalition faces challenges in converting this support into a parliamentary majority. The Newspoll analysis suggests that, due to regional variations and seat distributions, the Coalition might struggle to secure enough seats to form a government if an election were held today.
Given this context, strategic voting for independents and minor parties could play a pivotal role in shaping the next government. By supporting candidates outside the traditional two-party system, voters have the opportunity to influence policy directions and promote a more representative democracy.
Note: Polling data is subject to change as the election date approaches. For the most current information, refer to reputable news sources and polling organisations.
Review of candidates based on:
• Transparency and community ties.
• Support for free public services.
• Climate action, housing justice, and political accountability.
Use tools like Vote Guide to compare policies, and They Vote for You to see how politicians vote in parliament on issues important to you. Additionally, searching the Facebook pages and other social media of new candidates can help you identify what they stand for. Also, make sure you vote wisely and strategically.
Push for:
• Donation transparency
• Truth in political advertising laws
• Proportional representation
Citizens can reclaim democracy – if we demand it.
Independent voices break the two-party illusion. Share content from:
• Many other independent media here
Imagine an Australia where:
• Everyone has access to free, quality housing and healthcare.
• Education is publicly funded and lifelong.
• Politics is shaped by people – not profit.
• Government invests in a just transition to renewable energy.
That’s not utopia – it’s democracy at work.
But to build it, we need to move beyond the duopoly.
Australia’s political system isn’t broken – it’s working exactly as designed: to entrench corporate power and silence real reform.
Yet, the power of political change in Australia rests with us. Through strategic voting, civic education, and organised community action, we can dismantle the grip of the two-party system.
You don’t have to wait for politicians. They’re waiting on you.
What steps are you taking to help break the two-party cycle in your electorate? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Q1: Do independents have a real chance of winning seats?
Yes. In electorates like Warringah and Indi, community-backed independents have successfully challenged major parties by focusing on trust, integrity, and local issues.
Q2: What is Australia’s dollar sovereignty, and why does it matter?
As a currency issuer, Australia can fund public services without relying on taxes. This undermines the myth that we “can’t afford” justice or reform.
Q3: How can I influence change outside of elections?
Join local community groups, write to MPs, attend forums, and support media that challenges the status quo. Real change is constant – not just electoral.
If you found this article insightful, explore more about political reform and Australia’s monetary sovereignty at Social Justice Australia.
Share this article with your community to help drive the conversation toward a more just and equal society.
Click on our “Reader Feedback”. Please let us know how our content has inspired you. Submit your testimonial and help shape the conversation today!
Unlike corporate-backed media, we rely on reader support. If you value independent, in-depth reporting:
👉 Donate now to help fund research, hosting, and future content.
This article was originally published on Social Justice Australia
Independent sites such as The AIMN provide a platform for public interest journalists. From its humble beginning in January 2013, The AIMN has grown into one of the most trusted and popular independent media organisations.
One of the reasons we have succeeded has been due to the support we receive from our readers through their financial contributions.
With increasing costs to maintain The AIMN, we need this continued support.
Your donation – large or small – to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.
You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969
Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) Media Release We always knew this was going to…
Is Peter Dutton as tiresome in his delivery as he seems and as excitable in…
Peter Dutton’s stated support for Donald Trump could complicate his chances in the upcoming federal…
In the glow of the screen, where pixels dance and flicker bright, We trade our…
Some revelations are plain discouraging. My back of the envelope calculations indicate that I am…
Charles Darwin University Media Release Self-driving vehicles are becoming more commonplace on our roads but…
View Comments
Effective voting for independents requires some knowledge of the preferential voting system. This link will help you make your vote count.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiLAx7kp4Rc
The voting system is quite complicated here. I have always tried to study each candidate in Federal, or State, or Local council elections.
In Britain they have a general "First past the post" system.
Where I lived for 20 years - Hong Kong- the Governor was designated to be the representative of the British Crown and the judicial system and everything worked like clockwork. ( The 4 Governors who were there during my time were very popular with the - mainly Cantonese people of Hong Kong).
There was no such thing as voting and there still isn't with the new Chinese order. No pension system either.
I wish the voting system here wasn't so complicated- with preferences going hither and thither. I know it's better that the the British system and the American system where people may just not vote at all, but it is quite complicated and I'm sure some people are confused by it.