19-05-2025
Australia votes 2025 — what message should we take from this election result?
If democracy is the will of the people, what does this federal election result say about Australia? In his election night victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians had voted for Australian values, claiming these were fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all. But is this right message we should take from the election result?
This conversation was recorded live at the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival in partnership with The Wheeler Centre. To explore more Melbourne Writers Festival talks, visit
Speakers
Judith Brett
Political historian
Author, The Fearless Beatrice Faust, Robert Menzies' Forgotten People, Australian Liberals and the Moral Middle Class, and The Enigmatic Mr Deakin, (winner, 2018 National Biography award)
Cathy McGowan
Former Independent MP for Indi
Author, Cathy Goes to Canberra: doing politics differently
Thomas Mayo
National Indigenous Officer of the Maritime Union of Australia
"Yes" campaigner in the Voice to Parliament referendum
Author, Dear Son, Letters and Reflections from First Nations Fathers and Sons, Always Was, Always Will Be: The Campaign for Justice and Recognition Continues, and more
Sally Warhaft (host)
Interviewer, broadcaster, anthropologist and writer
Host, The Fifth Estate event series at The Wheeler Centre
Former editor, The Monthly magazine
Author, Well May We Say: The speeches that made Australia
Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, La Trobe University
