This was published 10 months ago
And here we are - federal election day 2025.
Our senior reporters have been on the ground in the ‘hot seats’ electorates this morning - speaking to voters and candidates as they cast their votes - and into the evening as the first results are counted. We’ll also be posting snippets from interesting contests elsewhere in the state.
In the fading light of the final hour before the Malvern pre-poll booth closed for good, I caught up with Monique Ryan – the Independent MP for Kooyong – to ask what she’s taken away from what’s been a wild campaign in Kooyong.
Half-joking but half-not, I asked her why has Kooyong been the most dramatic electorate in the country?
“I don’t know where it all came from,” she laughed. “Traditionally, it’s sort of a sleepy hollow, but it has been a very strange election campaign – and much of the drama has been unexpected.”
If you vote in the northern suburbs seat of Wills, Sue Bolton may be a familiar face — on Saturday, she’s running again as a socialist candidate, her third consecutive attempt.
Bolton might be dismissed elsewhere as a fringe candidate. But in Wills, where the 64-year-old has served four terms as a Merri-bek councillor and built a reputation through decades of activism, her presence carries weight – especially in a contest where the war in Gaza and cost-of-living pressures are dominating political conversations.
Bolton started her career as a bus driver and public servant – where she says she witnessed firsthand the struggles of the working class.
The NDIS business of the Liberal candidate for Bruce, Zahid Safi, faces a fresh investigation by the industry watchdog.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission confirmed it had an active investigation into Willow Support Services, and was “looking into concerns” regarding an “open complaint”, but could not comment further.
These investigations typically relate to quality of care and business management. Safi, who did not respond to requests for comment about the new probe, is the sole owner and director of Willow.
From a candidate in the top 0.05 per cent of Kylie Minogue fans globally (according to Spotify) to pub knitting nights and competitive sailing, the minor party candidates in Wills bring colour as well as conviction.
Their platforms range from legalising cannabis to a universal basic income, and from slashing fuel taxes to defying global institutions.
Some want to cool the planet, others to cool political hatred—but none are content with a two-horse race. Here’s what they stand for, in their own words:
Far-right agitators have turned up at pre-poll voting centre at St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Brighton, setting up loudspeakers directly across the road from the polling station.
A group of three men, including Matt Trihey, all dressed in black set up speakers and flags, including the Australian flag and Eureka flag.
They had a sign saying “National Workers Alliance” and played loud music before speaking out against Liberal candidate Tim Wilson and incumbent teal MP Zoe Daniel who they said failed to debate them.
Police officers were seen speaking to the men, who packed up after about an hour.
There’s a vibe in the air in Kooyong today as if it’s the final day of school: it’s sunny, the weary volunteers are smiling, and the lines are long. You can feel it – we’re almost there (thank god).
The queues at the Kew pre-polling booth are the longest I’ve seen all fortnight, with some voters waiting more than 40 minutes. There seems to be a kind of false economy going on – many people say they think voting today will save them time tomorrow. However, the number of booths in Kooyong explodes by 40 tomorrow for election day, and voting will probably be quicker, especially for savvy booth-hunters who know how to dodge any chaos. But the sunny weather and the promise that we can all soon move on with our lives have voters already in a noticeably better mood.
After the dramatic signage saga that played out in the Supreme Court yesterday, things were also notably more orderly at the booth today. Even though the court ruled everyone could have more than one A-frame, today it looks like Monique Ryan’s team has taken the moral high ground and stuck with one, while the Liberals had plenty. But all A-frames have been lined up neatly, and Boroondara’s sign police seem nowhere in sight.
One of the true joys of voting on election day is, of course, a democracy sausage freshly cooked by the local parents and friends association.
Do not fear, barbecues are being fired up across Goldstein for election day sausage sizzles, and some local schools and community groups are going beyond the standard offering.
At Elsternwick Primary School, voters can pick up a democracy sausage for $4 (there is also a vegan option), cakes, biscuits, jams and chilli oil at the cake stall, or a flu jab at the walk-in immunisation clinic.
Brunswick’s pre-poll station was packed on Friday morning, with long queues and all the candidates – except for one – there in a final push to win over voters.
The candidates and Australian Electoral Commission workers said it was proving one of the busiest days so far.
At the Davies Street polling booth, as they have been every day since last Monday, were Labor MP Peter Khalil and Greens candidate Samantha Ratnam.
The pre-poll booths in Goldstein have been getting increasingly hectic, with the number of volunteers handing out how-to-vote cards often outnumbering the number of people actually voting.
Amongst the crowds yesterday at the Hampton pre-poll were a few notable volunteers, Liberal candidate Tim Wilson’s mum and over in Brighton, independent teal MP Zoe Daniel’s dad and son.
It was easy to spot Wilson’s mum, Linda Morriss, as she was wearing a badge saying “I’m Tim’s Mum!” alongside her royal blue Tim Wilson T-shirt.