How big was Labor's win?

The role of preferences

A bad night for the Coalition

A disaster for the Greens?

Independents continue to push the majors

A progressive majority in the Senate

Labor won big and the Coalition got “smashed”, but the major parties have never been more reliant on preferences.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Bill Browne joins Ebony Bennett discuss the extraordinary scale of Labor’s victory in the May federal election, what the devastating result might mean for the Coalition, and why a large crossbench in federal parliament could be here to stay.

Guest: Bill Browne, Director of Democracy & Accountability, the Australia Institute // @browne90

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Major parties have never relied more on preferences, the Australia Institute (June 2025)

For major party leaders, the Greens, independents and minor parties are the closest threat, the Australia Institute (June 2025)

The 2025 federal election is the first where a major party received fewer votes than independents and minor parties, the Australia Institute (June 2025)

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

Labor won big and the Coalition got &ldquo;smashed&rdquo;, but the major parties have never been more reliant on preferences.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Bill Browne joins Ebony Bennett discuss the extraordinary scale of Labor&rsquo;s victory in the May federal election, what the devastating result might mean for the Coalition, and why a large crossbench in federal parliament could be here to stay.
Guest: Bill Browne, Director of Democracy &amp; Accountability, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/browne90.bsky.social">@browne90</a>
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/ebonybennett.bsky.social">@ebonybennett</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/major-parties-have-never-relied-more-on-preferences/">Major parties have never relied more on preferences</a>, the Australia Institute (June 2025)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/for-major-party-leaders-the-greens-independents-and-minor-parties-are-the-closest-threat/">For major party leaders, the Greens, independents and minor parties are the closest threat</a>, the Australia Institute (June 2025)
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/the-2025-federal-election-is-the-first-where-a-major-party-received-fewer-votes-than-independents-and-minor-parties/">The 2025 federal election is the first where a major party received fewer votes than independents and minor parties</a>, the Australia Institute (June 2025)
Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Economics and politics explained in plain English

Follow The Money

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

Economics, politics and policy explained in plain English.

Labor won big and the Coalition got “smashed”, but the major parties have never been more reliant on preferences.

Advertisement