As the dust settles following the vote, it’s a great time to spotlight the outstanding work community broadcasters have done in covering the 2025 Federal Election.
This wrap highlights just a portion of the election stories told by passionate staff and volunteers across the country. If your station also shared coverage, we’d love to hear from you, drop us a line at [email protected].
1RPH: An Interview with Advocacy for Inclusion
Canberra radio reading service 1RPH featured an interview, hosted by Sarah Guise, with Craig Wallace. They discussed the rise of hate speech, misinformation and disinformation about people with disability. Also, Nic Stuart from AbilityNews spoke to what was happening with Navigators, as proposed by the NDIS review.
2MFM: Representing Muslim Voices in the Election Conversation
As Australia’s only Muslim religious broadcaster, 2MFM offers vital insights for Muslim communities. Their election coverage included a standout interview with Education Minister Jason Clare on the Gen Zee program, connecting faith and policy.
2NUR: Local Voices on National Stakes
Newcastle’s 2NUR brought diverse perspectives to air, interviewing:
- Meryl Swanson MP, who discussed her re-election in marginal Paterson and her views on the Coalition’s loss
- Dan Repacholi MP, who discussed local infrastructure, the One Nation vote, and broader political trends
- Bob Hawes, CEO of Business Hunter, who outlined regional economic priorities including post-mining land use and high-speed rail
Regional News Editor Daniel Pizarro gave New England listeners direct access to Barnaby Joyce MP and Jamie Chaffey MP (Parkes). This coverage reinforced how community radio connects audiences with decision-makers in rural and regional areas.
BayFM: Investigative Journalism with a Local Heart
Known for its award-winning Community Newsroom, led by Mia Armitage, Byron Bay’s BayFM curated a rich mix of stories, including:
The station also aired balanced coverage about the three candidates for the region, featuring interviews with each.
CBAA: Bringing Alternative Political Perspectives to the Sector
"Noah’s piece was great and useful, providing us with an alternative voice and making our local news service sound bigger and better."
- Ian Crouch, 2NUR News Director
"Noah knows what he’s doing and I really love his work."
- Asad Khan, Ngaarda Media
And CBAA’s First Nations Affairs Reporter Micah Kickett also drew well-earned praise for his coverage of election issues as they impacted First Nations Australians. His vox pops that were recorded during the leadup were highlighted as well as his contribution to the CBAA podcast From Pillar to Post.
From Pillar to Post, which explores how issues play out in community as well as federal politics, was launched by the CBAA just ahead of the election. Episode 2 discussed the issues that had not made their way into the election campaign and listeners heard from an AAP reporter on the campaign bus about the level of content control that goes on. Following the election, the podcast examined the role of independent candidates, why they did well in some metropolitan areas, but not in rural areas, and featured with a historian who shared some of the parallels with the past.