Kooyong: The 2025 Election That Kept Us All Guessing
The 2025 federal election? A wild ride, let me tell you. But honestly, the fight for Kooyong stole the show. This fancy Melbourne seat, usually a safe bet for the Liberals, became this crazy battleground. It was a real microcosm of the whole election – showing just how much things are changing in Australian politics.
The Kooyong Clash: Neck and Neck
Monique Ryan, the independent who’d won in 2022, was facing a serious challenge from Amelia Hamer, the Liberal candidate. Hamer, a successful fintech exec, ran a big campaign, but things got a bit messy. There was some talk of conflicts of interest, and – get this – there was even an incident involving Ryan’s husband and a Hamer campaign poster. Let's just say it got a little… heated.
High turnout: Everywhere else, voter turnout was pretty low. But not in Kooyong! People were seriously engaged, showing just how important this seat was.
The big issue: Even in this wealthy area, the cost of living was top of mind for everyone. It wasn't just a working-class worry; it was affecting everyone.
Ryan's gamble: Ryan predicted a much bigger crossbench – more independent MPs – showing a real dissatisfaction with the major parties. And she wasn't wrong.
A Nation Watching
Kooyong was a huge test. Was the "teal" independent wave of 2022 a fluke, or was it here to stay? Seats like Goldstein, Wentworth, and Warringah were also nail-biters. Turns out, the teal wave was still rolling. Several teal independents, including Monique Ryan, won. It wasn’t just a flash in the pan; it was a lasting shift.
Meanwhile, over in the Bruce electorate, things were very different. Julian Hill, from Labor, won big. He’d done an amazing job of connecting with the community, personally reaching out to nearly everyone. It just goes to show you how different campaigning can be across different areas.
Jeff Kennett's Take
I heard Jeff Kennett's post-election comments at Amelia Hamer’s election night party, and, wow. It was raw. He was clearly disappointed but admitted Labor ran a stronger campaign. He even criticized the Liberal Party's admin, saying they’d let down hardworking candidates like Hamer. He worried about losing young volunteers after this loss.
It was pretty clear the Liberals faced some serious internal issues – campaign strategy, administration… it all needed a rethink. And Hamer's absence from her own party only added to the sense of disappointment. It was a tough night for the Liberals in Kooyong.
A Changing Australia?
The Kooyong election, and the broader results, showed us something significant. People are really unhappy with the major parties. The success of independents shows a strong desire for something different. The huge turnout in Kooyong really drove that point home. The next few years will be crucial. Is this a temporary shift, or is it a permanent change? The future of the "teal" wave is definitely something everyone's talking about.
