Monash experts: 2025 federal election

Monash University experts are available to comment on a range of topics relating to the 2025 federal election. In addition to political analysis, our experts can discuss policies relating to health, housing, education, cost of living, business, climate and environment, infrastructure, energy and more.

To speak with our experts or for other media enquiries, please contact the Monash University media team on +61 3 9903 4840 or media@monash.edu

Politics, voter behaviour, electoral law, international affairs

Dr Zareh Ghazarian, Head of Politics and International Relations Discipline, Monash School of Social Sciences

  • General election commentary
  • Political leadership
  • Public policy

Dr Blair Williams, Lecturer in Australian Politics, Monash School of Social Sciences

  • Importance of women (independent) candidates
  • Women's representation in major parties
  • Coalition policy on so-called 'woke' agendas

Associate Professor Ben Wellings, Politics and International Relations

  • The emergence of CANZUK (Canada-Australia-New Zealand-UK) cooperation in the face of the Trump presidency's actions during the Australian and Canadian elections
  • The end of the West and the Anglosphere, and the effect of these developments on the Australian election campaign and Australian foreign and security policy
  • UK perceptions of the Australian election

Dr Denise Goodwin, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia

  • Mis- and disinformation in electoral campaigns
  • How and why people come to have certain beliefs, attitudes and opinions
  • Behaviour and attitude change

Comments attributable to Dr Goodwin:

“Misinformation thrives during high-stakes events like elections, distorting democracy by shaping false narratives and swaying voters. There are several behaviours that might combat this type of information, including digging deeper than headlines. This may improve accuracy of judgement, verifying authenticity, and calling out or correcting peers’ falsehoods.”

Professor Luke Beck, Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law

  • Constitutional issues and referendums
  • Disqualification of candidates (e.g. Ss 44 dual citizenship issues)

Professor Liam Smith, Director, Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia

  • Behaviour change, including social, political and economic behaviours
  • Public policy, particularly on environment and sustainability
  • Social inclusion

Comments attributable to Professor Smith:

On voter behaviour

“Research on voter behaviour has consistently shown a strong link between parental voting patterns and the political engagement of their children. Studies suggest that parents who actively discuss political issues at home significantly influence their children's political preferences. This intergenerational transmission of political voting behaviour highlights the role of family socialisation in shaping civic engagement. While parental influence is most pronounced during adolescence, it can also establish lifelong voting habits, reinforcing the importance of family dynamics in voting preferences.”

On unintended consequences of lowering petrol excise

“Broadly speaking, we know that increases in fuel prices is associated with less driving. Therefore, reducing the petrol excise in Australia could unintentionally encourage people to spend more time on the road, as lower fuel costs make driving more affordable. This could lead to increased traffic congestion, higher road maintenance costs, and greater environmental impact due to higher carbon emissions. Additionally, there will be a reduced incentive to use public transport, switch to electric vehicles or engage in active transport, which may hinder efforts to promote sustainable transport. While the policy aims to ease cost-of-living pressures, its broader implications on infrastructure and climate goals must also be carefully considered.”

The economy

Professor Robert Brooks, Professor of Econometrics and Business Statistics, Monash Business School
Read Professor Brooks’ commentary at Monash Lens

  • Economic policies of the major political parties
  • Economic stability after the elections

Dr Isaac Gross, Department of Economics, Monash Business School
Read Dr Gross’ commentary at Monash Lens

  • Economic impact of the elections
  • Impact of US tariffs and how they will affect the Reserve Bank of Australia
  • Economic policies of the major parties

Women, equality and gender-based violence

Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Monash Business School
Read Professor Fitz-Gibbon’s commentary at Monash Lens

  • National plan to end violence against women and children
  • Domestic, family and sexual violence
  • Policy commitments relating to women and children's safety

Health, including Medicare

Professor Anthony Scott, Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School
Read Professor Scott’s commentary at Monash Lens

  • Medicare
  • Health workforce shortages
  • Health care out of pocket costs
  • Health economics

Professor Danielle Mazza AM, Head of General Practice at Monash University, Chief Investigator and Director of the SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care and Australian National and Victorian Women’s Health Advisory Council member

  • General practice
  • Women's Health
  • Endometriosis Care

Associate Professor Joanne Enticott, Head of Mental Health Epidemiology, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation
Read Associate Professor Enticott’s commentary at Monash Lens

  • Mental health
  • Informing policy to support equitable and effective health services
  • Translational clinical and health services research, data-driven research, big data and analytics and Learning Health System development

Comments attributable to Associate Professor Enticott:

“Mental health is important to every Australian, but far more Medicare funded mental health care goes to the affluent areas and not the more disadvantaged areas with the greatest needs. We need to talk about this more during this election campaign.”

Professor Helena Teede AM, Professor of Women's Health and Equity, and Director Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Lead on NHMRC funded International Advancing Women in Leadership Initiative and Centre of Research Excellence in Women's Health in Reproductive Life

  • Gender equity and advancing women's health
  • Neglected women's reproductive health conditions and lead on International Evidence-based Polycystic Ovary Syndrome guidelines
  • National Healthy Pregnancy Initiative

Housing

Associate Professor Duncan Maxwell, Director of Future Building Initiative, Monash Art, Design and Architecture

  • Modern methods of construction
  • Prefabrication/offsite construction for housing
  • Construction innovation and built environment productivity

Higher education

Professor Andrew Norton, Professor of Monash Business School Executive Education
Read Professor Norton’s commentary at Monash Lens

  • Major parties' higher education policies

Environment

Dr Meghan Shaw, Research Fellow, Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia

  • Biodiversity and conservation
  • Behaviour change

Comments attributable to Dr Shaw:

“The latest biodiversity concerns report highlights growing public anxiety over environmental degradation, with 96% of Australians advocating for stronger conservation measures. Issues like pollution, habitat loss, and species extinction are now among the top priorities for voters. Support for biodiversity policies is strong across all voters, regardless of political alignment. This public sentiment could significantly influence electoral outcomes, as dissatisfaction with the federal government's environmental policies grows. Swing voters and independents, who are highly concerned about biodiversity, may play a pivotal role in shaping the next government. Environmental policies are likely to become a factor in upcoming elections, pushing parties to prioritise nature protection and sustainability.”

Dr Mark Boulet, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia

  • Environment and sustainability
  • Education and behaviour change

Comments attributable to Dr Boulet:

“Cost of living is high on the agenda in the electoral lead up, but there are more ways to save than waiting for policy changes. Most Australian households waste more food than they think. We lost up to $2,500 per year per household by throwing out uneaten food. There are a number of easy changes that can be made to reduce waste, such as meal planning, portion control, and creative use of leftovers. A win-win for both wallets and the planet.”

Jennifer Macklin, Senior Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute

  • Reducing cost-of-living pressures and environmental impact through smart reuse models and circular solutions
  • Behaviour change for circular economy transitions

Comments attributable to Macklin:

“A circular economy puts more money in people’s pockets. Repairing more household goods, opting for shared or second-hand options, and avoiding unnecessary purchases can save thousands yearly. Charitable Reuse Australia and the NSW EPA found that second-hand shopping saved NSW residents more than $430 million. Individual actions are great but are not enough, system-wide measures are also needed. Enshrining the Right to Repair, mandating extended producer responsibility, and setting minimum durable standards for products can shift the burden from consumers to manufacturers and drive down household costs.”

Energy and industry

Associate Professor Guillaume Roger, Impact Labs, Monash Business School

  • Major parties’ energy policies
  • Electricity prices
  • Electricity market reforms

Associate Professor Behrooz Bahrani, Department of Electrical and Computer System Engineering
Read more of Dr Bahrani’s commentary on Monash Lens

  • Grid integration of renewable energy resources and power system stability
  • Wind/solar farm control
  • Electric vehicles

Professor Matthew Hill, Head, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Comments attributable to Professor Hill:

“The overwhelming majority of Australia’s battery minerals are currently exported to China, so exposure to the tariffs is likely to be an indirect one, being through China’s automotive industry.  No one can reliably predict the future path for this market in light of the current flux in global affairs. American importers of Chinese cars, alongside the manufacturers will be forced to make a choice between focussing on other markets, passing on part of the tariffs, or protecting their bottom line by moving to cheaper battery chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and soon, Lithium-sulfur (LiS).

“This is a chance for innovation, as it could cut costs from car production.  For example, lowering the cost of accessing lithium may be possible with the amazing membrane filters Monash spin-out company Electralith are developing. There is a chance to add value to our exports, such as the pilot project underway between Pilbara Minerals and Calix to produce LFP battery cathode material instead of lithium ore spodumene. Finally, local company Kite Magnetics, from Monash Materials Science and Engineering, are reimagining what goes into an electric motor, removing the need for rare earth elements. These kinds of innovations cut cost and add performance, and those are things that tend to be winners no matter what’s going on around the world.”

Dr Stuart Walsh,  Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

  • Hydrogen
  • Green ammonia, steel and iron
  • Critical minerals

Professor Laurence Meagher, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

  • Sustainable plastics
  • Materials for medical applications (polymers, metals) and the manufacture of therapeutic cells (cell therapies)
  • Medical device translation (from the bench towards clinical application)

Professor Jayantha Kodikara, Director of ARC ITRH on Smart Road Pavements - SPARC Hub

  • Road infrastructure and climate effects