Today’s Federal Election wasn’t just another election: it was a moment of reckoning. While I’m personally relieved by the outcome, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also reflecting on what could’ve been. A minority Labor government might’ve offered us a stronger push toward multi-partisanship and accountability. Still, as a Labor supporter who values bold, long-term thinking and genuine progress, I’m cautiously hopeful about what lies ahead.

That said, there’s no room for triumphalism especially not when our country remains divided, our planet under threat and entire communities still on the margins.

In a campaign saturated with slogans and fear-mongering, particularly from the likes of the Trumpet of Patriots, many voters understandably tuned out. But for those of us who believe in a more just, inclusive and sustainable future, now is the time to stay switched on, not switch off. This moment demands more than partisanship. It demands cooperation, vision and courage.

Now is the time for vision

I wrote Australia Votes 2025: It’s time to think long-term right after the election was called and much of it still rings true now that the votes have mostly been counted. We don’t just elect leaders, we set direction.

Climate policy, housing affordability, education reform and healthcare equity don’t wait for news cycles or budget announcements. They’re ongoing battles shaped by every vote, every policy, every voice raised or silenced.

And for people like me, the fight doesn’t end with a new government sworn in. Because bi+ visibility, queer justice and minority representation aren’t campaign promises: they’re rights that must be protected and expanded every single day.

What happens now?

As a progressive voter, I know there’s a tendency to exhale after a win. But the work starts now. This is the time to:

• Hold Labor accountable to its promises on climate, housing, Aboriginal Affairs and protection of the queer community.
• Push for inclusive policymaking especially in a parliament that still doesn’t reflect the full diversity of our nation.
• Support community-led movements from grassroots activists to peer support networks, who do the real work between election cycles.

And most importantly: we must protect our democracy from those who wish to exploit it. The rise of ultra-nationalist rhetoric, disinformation and imported culture wars is real and dangerous. We can’t ignore it just because it lost ground this time.

Let’s choose cooperation over chaos, accountability over ambition, and community over culture war.

By the numbers

Metric	Result
National two‑party‑preferred	Labor 55.4% /Coalition 44.6% +3.2pp to Labor
National primary vote	– Labor 34.7% (+2.1 pp) – Coalition 31.3% (-4.4pp) – Others: 13.6% (+ 3.32pp) – Greens: 12.3% (+ 0.1 pp) – One Nation: 6.2% (+ 1.2 pp) – Trumpets: 1.9% (-2.2 pp)

Source: ABC News as at about 11pm on 3 May 2025.

The final say

I remain proud to be a Labor supporter. But I also remain committed to multi-partisan collaboration, because the challenges we face cannot be solved by any one party, ideology or demographic alone.

The future is still up for grabs. Let’s make sure it belongs to all of us.