Australia Election 2025 Live: Australian PM Anthony Albanese re-elected for second term, ABC projects

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor Party was projected to win over the conservative opposition, Sky News Australia and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Polling in Australia’s federal election officially ends at 6pm local time—but with the country spread across three time zones, voting wraps up at different times around the nation.

In the eastern states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, which follow Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), polls will close at 08:00 GMT.

Voting in South Australia and the Northern Territory will end at 08:30 GMT, while the final ballots will be cast in Western Australia, where polls close at 10:00 GMT.

On the eve of Australia’s federal election, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange offered a rare public endorsement, praising Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for playing a key role in efforts to secure his release.

Referring to Albanese affectionately as “Albo,” Assange said the Australian leader had done “more to secure my freedom than any other politician or public figure.”

In a statement shared by his brother Gabriel Shipton on social media, Assange acknowledged Albanese’s support dating back to his time in opposition. “Even while in opposition, Albo listened to the Australian public (and my family) and promised to take action. But talk from opposition is easy. What did he actually do when he became Prime Minister?” he wrote.

“Against all expectations for an Australian politician, once elected, he kept his word,” Assange said, commending Albanese’s consistency and follow-through.

Expressing his confidence outside the Albany Creek State High School polling booth in Brisbane, Queensland, Dutton told reporters today, "I believe Australians have seen through this ineffective government and cannot afford another three years of the same," he stated.

Australia’s Electoral Commission has issued a final reminder to voters on the east coast, urging them to cast their ballots before polling stations close at 6pm local time (08:00 GMT).

With more than 7,000 polling stations operating nationwide from 8 am to 6 pm, voters are reminded that closing times vary across the country due to different time zones.

Election authorities advise voters to ensure they reach their designated stations before the deadline.

In this election, all 150 lower house seats and 40 of the 76 Senate seats are being contested.

To form a majority government, a party must win at least 76 seats in the House, or else rely on independents or smaller parties for support.

For the House of Representatives, voters must number every candidate on the ballot.

In the Senate, a minimum number of preferences is required, but not for all candidates.

In Australia, if no candidate secures more than 50% of first-choice votes, the one with the fewest votes is eliminated and their ballots are redistributed based on second preferences.

This continues until a candidate achieves a majority.

Australia’s elections operate under a preferential voting system that requires voters to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than simply choosing one.

This system differs from the first-past-the-post model used in countries like the UK and the US, where the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority.

Polling ends at 6 pm AET (08:00 GMT) on Saturday.

Vote counting begins immediately, though postal ballots—many of which arrive later—are counted after election day.

While full results won’t be announced on the night, early tallies could offer a strong indication of the winner.

In the background, defence policy is also getting attention, particularly with rising regional security concerns.

Both major parties back increased spending, but differ on strategy and partnerships.

With growing pressure to move away from fossil fuels, energy policy is also a key dividing line.

Many young Australians are calling for a 100% renewable grid by 2030.

Labor is aiming for 82% renewable energy by that year, focusing on solar and wind.

The Coalition, meanwhile, is banking on nuclear energy, proposing seven government-funded nuclear power plants that would come online from 2035 - though critics say that’s too slow to meet immediate needs.

Housing affordability is a major flashpoint.

In Sydney, a household now needs to earn around A$280,000 (US$180,000) annually to buy a median-priced home—a staggering A$1.4 million (US$900,000).

The rental market is just as tight, with average rents climbing nearly 5% last year, after an even steeper 8.1% rise the year before. Both major parties are pitching solutions: Labor is promising 100,000 homes for first-time buyers, while the Coalition pledges to cut red tape and invest in infrastructure to accelerate housing supply.

Inflation continues to bite, with essentials like eggs jumping 11% in price last year.

The Reserve Bank has hiked interest rates repeatedly, reaching a 12-year high of 4.35% in late 2023. Though inflation has eased from its 2023 peak of 7.8%, many households still feel the financial strain.

Australians are heading to the polls with a host of pressing concerns at the forefront—rising living expenses, housing affordability, energy transition, and national defence—all shaping what could be a pivotal electoral outcome.

This election will be the first held with 150 seats in the House following a recent redrawing of electoral boundaries, down from 151. With rising costs and shifting political sentiments in play, the outcome could shape Australia’s policy trajectory for years to come.

In the 2022 federal election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party won a narrow majority in the House of Representatives with 77 out of 151 seats, bringing the party back to power after nearly a decade.

The Liberal-National Coalition secured 58 seats, while the Greens won four.

Before Parliament was dissolved on March 28 ahead of this election, the Senate was composed of 30 Coalition members, 25 from Labor, 11 Greens, six from minor parties, and four independents.

Each voter receives two ballot papers:

A green one for the House of Representatives, where they rank all candidates in their electorate by preference.

A white one for the Senate, where they vote for state or territory representatives who will review and amend laws passed by the House.

Australia holds federal elections every three years using a preferential voting system, and voting is compulsory for citizens aged 18 and above.

Failure to vote without a valid excuse can result in a $20 AUD fine (approx. $12.75 USD).

To vote, citizens must be registered on the national electoral roll.

No voter ID is required at polling places.

Australia’s voting system is among the most accessible in the world. Over 500 early voting centres opened on April 22 and closed on May 2, with approximately 4.8 million Australians having already voted ahead of election day.

For Australians living abroad, voting has been available through embassies and consulates, though participation is optional. Those choosing not to vote must notify the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

Remote voting has also been underway since April 22.

Special AEC teams have travelled by car, plane, boat, and even helicopter to reach voters in isolated communities, including on Christmas and the Cocos Islands.

Postal voting remains an option for eligible Australians who cannot vote in person.

Here’s how polling hours break down:

Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): Polling stations in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Canberra, and Jervis Bay will be open from 8am to 6pm AEST (Friday 22:00 GMT to Saturday 08:00 GMT).

Norfolk Island: While Canberra polling stations are listed for Norfolk Island residents, the island itself has one local polling place open from 8am to 6pm Norfolk Time (Friday 21:00 GMT to Saturday 07:00 GMT).

Australian Central Standard Time (ACST): South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Broken Hill in outback New South Wales will vote from 8am to 6pm ACST (Friday 22:30 GMT to Saturday 08:30 GMT). This also applies to polling locations serving Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Australian Western Standard Time (AWST): Western Australia polls will be open from 8am to 6pm AWST (Saturday 00:00 to 10:00 GMT).

More than 7,000 polling stations across Australia are opening their doors as voters cast ballots in a closely watched federal election, with cost-of-living concerns dominating the national conversation.

Today, polls will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, but due to Australia’s multiple time zones, voting times vary across the country.