Days out from the federal election, this is what voters are telling Your SayBBy Ben KnightTopic:Elections1h ago1 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 9:06pmAlexandra from Queensland says she wanted to see "bigger-picture thinking" from politicians. (ABC News: Eddy Gill)abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2025-your-say-voters/105233082Link copiedShareShare articleAfter five weeks, and tens of thousands of contributions, the ABC's Your Say project has finished this election campaign where it began — with voters appealing for bolder ambition from their political leaders.I wanted to see bigger-picture thinking. — Alexandra, mental health nurse, Yarrabilba, QldStay updated:Federal election live updates: Get the latest news from the campaign trailCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenI'm looking for more of those future forward-thinking proposals. — Flynn, law student, Warrandyte, VicWhat I was looking forward to in this election campaign was a vision and a road map for what Australia could look like in 15 to 20 years down the road. I feel they have taken the populist approach. — Megha, consultant, Mickleham, VicThe same words appear over and over again. Vision. Big picture. Bold ideas. Structural change.Where are the bold ideas? I feel that for the last 25 years, we never had a bold vision going forward into the 21st century. — Raffi, jeweller, Sydney, NSWMark from the ACT would like to hear more about climate change from the candidates. (ABC News: Joel Wilson)Both parties are trying to have a narrow platform and creating a small target so they can't be attacked. They're too scared to actually come forward with some bold statements. — Mark, contractor, Harrison, ACTOlder voters in particular, lament the loss of transformative government.I have a university education because Gough Whitlam provided free tertiary education that changed my entire life, and my entire prospects. Bob Hawke and Paul Keating introduced compulsory superannuation, so I will be able to retire in some kind of reasonable time frame.I don't live in fear, or I didn't live in fear of my son going to school and being shot because John Howard introduced gun laws that were reasonable and useful.And there's been nobody from either side of politics in recent times that's been in a position of power has been willing to take any kind of risks. — Belinda, communications officer, Oatlands, NSWThere's no doubt taking a big policy platform to an election in Australia is risky. John Howard succeeded in 1998, when he put the GST to voters and won.Read more about the federal election:Strange 'ballot-fellows' revealed on parties' how-to-vote cardsHow the Greens rebranded from environmental activists to the 'party of renters'The key election promises from Labor and the CoalitionWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageBut when Bill Shorten tried big tax reform on property investors in 2019, he lost.Anthony Albanese had the biggest failure of his prime ministership with the defeat of the Voice referendum.Would four-year terms make government more productive?Another constant theme in Your Say contributions is that voters don't want to see policy ideas that didn't make it — like negative gearing reform — remain permanently off the table.For Bill Shorten, it didn't work out. But I don't think that that's a reason that we should cower away from actually tackling the bigger issues.That political courage is, I think, what people are looking for. I'm certainly looking for it. — Alexandra, mental health nurse, Yarrabilba, QldNSW resident Raffi wants a focus on the future and the "new generation". (ABC News: Abbey Haberecht)Politics feels stuck in a three-year cycle with the little tangible change beyond the election cycle. — Raffi, jeweller, Sydney, NSWI think one of the inhibiting factors is the fact that we've only got a three-year cycle for our federal politicians to actually deliver. So I think there should be on the table for discussion, maybe changing to a four-year program. — Mark, contractor, Harrison, ACTThe idea of changing to fixed four-year terms has come up a lot in Your Say contributions.And there are other signs it might be an idea that's on the table.Follow the latest election newsPhoto shows ABC News Radio logo and the ABC Listen logo below it on a light blue background.Hear the latest election news as it happens on the Election Central Playlist. Only on the ABC listen app.In the closing moments of the third leaders' debate, host Allison Langdon asked both Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese if they would support four-year terms — which now exist in every Australian state and territory."I support four-year terms," said the opposition leader.Anthony Albanese was on the same page — almost."Yes, but [the Coalition] will never support a referendum," he said.Climate change, power, homelessness on voters' mindsSo what is it — specifically — that people are looking for?Not surprisingly, it varies widely.I would like to hear more about climate change. What we're facing is areas in Australia which are not insurable. If they're not insurable, we can't live there.We should be looking at things like a carbon tax, or a resource rent tax. And any revenues from a tax on the fossil fuel industry should go into an annuity fund for future generations of Australians, not just into general revenue. — Mark, contractor, Harrison, ACTWe're sleepwalking into a retirement crisis.We have this generation now who can't purchase a home in a reasonable time frame, and then when they go to retire, what's going to happen?We're already seeing it in certain groups. Like women that had smaller super balances, or didn't have super at all back in the day — their life is just one of destitution. — Alexandra, mental health nurse, Yarrabilba, QldBelinda from NSW is concerned about a lack of transformative policies, including initiatives to address homelessness. (ABC News: Berge Breiland)Single women in my age group are the fastest growing group of homeless people. I want something done about that.At the last election, when I was walking through Parramatta station to get the train to work, there were four homeless people down there. These days, there's five. Two of them are women in my age group.The things that they've announced for the young people and first home buyers are not going to help the people who are living in Parramatta station. — Belinda, communications officer, Oatlands, NSWClimate policy is a very personal thing for me. Close to my heart.Thus far we've heard actions focused on 2030, targets. But beyond that, what's the plan? And how will we support regional communities in the energy transition as well? — Raffi, jeweller, Sydney, NSWLoadingIf there is a big, nation-changing idea on offer from the major parties at this election, it's probably the Coalition's nuclear energy plan.Megha from Victoria says she wanted more vision for Australia's future this election. (ABC News: Andrew Ware)I fully appreciate that they have done this despite knowing that it will not appeal to the voters in the short term. But what I see is a lack of data and modelling.Even if you're reducing the energy cost in future, will the debt that we are going to incur over a period of years offset the cost that we are going to face in the future?So I feel like that missing data is why it hasn't been able to get to the buy in. — Megha, consultant, Mickleham, VicI think the opposition's proposal for nuclear is one of those big picture thoughts, but to me, it seems like it lacks thought and proper consideration.All the interesting stuff for me, I think comes a lot out of ideas proposed by minor parties or independents.The dental into Medicare policy that The Greens are proposing is real big picture. — Flynn, law student, Warrandyte, VicIt's certainly not unusual for minor parties or independents to offer massive, even radical changes — like the Greens' proposal to fully include dental and mental health into Medicare, by taxing large corporations.Critics say it's the sort of policy that's easy to propose when you're not a party that can form a government, and implement the policy.The 2025 election explained:Australia has preferential voting — how do you do it?What do Labor, the Liberals, the Nationals and the Greens stand for?Early voting is open. Find out if you're eligible and where to goBut as the major parties watch their primary vote fall at each election, plenty of Your Say contributors are telling us they're not at all worried at the prospect of minority government.I would so look forward to having a minority government. Back in the day, there was the phrase "keep the bastards honest".And I think that a minority government might kind of bring that into being.More collaboration and more consensus is good for democracy, and I think it is good for policy as well. And I think it can really push some good ideas into being. — Alexandra, mental health nurse, Yarrabilba, QldVictorian law student Flynn has been more captured by policies from minor parties and independents than from the major parties. (Supplied)I think no matter which party that forms a minority government, it'll be positive for Australia. It will reshape what we've been accustomed to for the last couple of decades. — Flynn, law student, Warrandyte, VicThe only positive future for Australia politically is more independents, pushing the major parties into doing the right thing for the interests of Australia. — Mark, contractor, Harrison, ACTSo far, few Your Say contributors say they are seeing the "big ideas" they are looking for.Some are optimistic that will change. Others are not.I just feel very disheartened. I know that they probably have big-picture ideas, but they're not showing enough courage to bring them forward.I think we need them to show compassion, and I think we need them to get away from their talking points. — Belinda, communications officer, Oatlands, NSWI think a lot more is possible than people or major parties might want to make us think.I think people understand how much governments can really do — and very quickly — because we all lived through the pandemic, and we saw an immense effort happen really quickly. — Alexandra, mental health nurse, Yarrabilba, QldI am quite hopeful that in the end, we can come together and formulate a plan that will get us to the next 25 years — as long as we focus on the new generation, because they are our future. — Raffi, jeweller, Sydney, NSWIt makes me feel like I want to get involved. I want to see some movement. — Flynn, law student, Warrandyte, VicLoading...Having trouble seeing this form? Try this link.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 9:06pm, updated 14m ago14 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 10:09pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesHackers have stolen almost 100 staff logins at the Big Four banks, experts sayTopic:Cyber CrimePhoto shows A generic graphic image including a gold dollar sign and some websites.Dutton turns to Voice as cost of living alone won't save the CoalitionDAnalysis by David SpeersPhoto shows Anthony Albanese NPC for Speers ColumnCoalition to release 'materially better, in double digits' budget costingsTopic:BudgetPhoto shows a bald male politician wearing glasses speaks in front of a man standing behind himUS, Ukraine sign deal two months after Oval Office clashBREAKINGPhoto shows Volodymyr Zelenskyy wearing all black with his left palm on his chest alongside Donald Trump wearing a blue suit and red tieThe strange 'ballot-fellows' revealed on parties' how-to-vote cardsTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows green how to vote cards in the background with a text box that says enter your suburbRelated storiesVoters swayed by cost of GP, dentist visits and the mental health crisisTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A green Medicare card alongside gold and silver Australian coins and blurred bank notesVoters unhappy negative gearing, stamp duty not on horizon this electionTopic:Housing PolicyPhoto shows A man with dyed blonde hair with black roots in a white collared shirt stands outside near a tall glass apartment building.This election, voters have a big choice to make on energy policyTopic:ExplainerPhoto shows Woman stands at counter of shopRelated topicsAustraliaAustralian Federal ElectionsElectionsHarrisonLogan VillageMicklehamOatlandsSydneyVotingWarrandyteTop StoriesHackers have stolen almost 100 staff logins at the Big Four banks, experts sayTopic:Cyber CrimePhoto shows A generic graphic image including a gold dollar sign and some websites.Dutton turns to Voice as cost of living alone won't save the CoalitionDAnalysis by David SpeersCoalition to release 'materially better, in double digits' budget costingsTopic:BudgetBreaking: US, Ukraine sign deal two months after Oval Office clashTopic:World PoliticsThe strange 'ballot-fellows' revealed on parties' how-to-vote cardsTopic:ElectionsJust InUS, Ukraine sign deal two months after Oval Office clashBREAKING2m ago2 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 10:21pm'Dancing to their tune': What Australia's neighbours want after this electionTopic:Elections18m ago18 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 10:05pm'Sleeping power': The untapped voters that could help decide key seatsTopic:Elections23m ago23 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 10:00pmRescuers fed up with tourists risking lives for selfies at coastal cliffTopic:Emergency Services24m ago24 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 9:59pmMore Just InBack to top