Anywhere outside Canberra: Meet some voters who will decide Australia's 2025 federal election | Australian election 2025

For the past three months, Guardian Australia has been talking to the average people about their daily lives - their families, their jobs, hobbies, stress and hopes.

These interviews constitute anywhere but us, besides the Canberra series, an image that is being processed by all over the country before the federal election. We want to see how people’s lives and perspectives shape their votes.

When we talk to a range of Australians, including teachers and students in the metropolitan area, farmers and small business owners in the area, young and old voters in Labour in all six states, liberal and green seats – they have to say that they are not that diverse.

In fact, many of their experiences and stressors are very same. Everyone we talked to mentioned the pressure on the cost of living, the lack of affordable housing among young voters, grocery prices, health care costs and HEC debt.

Here you can find everyone we interview and read what they have to say.


  1. Ali El Kheir

    Run a café and manage a wrestling stadium in Sydney, western New South Wales

    “I don’t think any politician really represents us”…Ali El Kheir. Comprehensive: Mostafa Rachwani/Guardian design

    …Most of the time, especially for the past 18 months, we have been focusing on what has happened in Gaza, Lebanon, where I have my family in Yemen and Sudan. These things, they feel heavy on me and the community here.

    Read more here


  2. Paul Tripodi

    Run a restaurant in Adelaide, South Australia

    "We're a little bit under pressure," said Paul Tripodi, a small business owner. Comprehensive: Guardian Design/Getty Images

    Now, I may do it for 65-70 hours a week, which is a bit too big. Yes, I really don't want to work that way.

    Read more here


  3. Lilly Wright

    Operating Malaysian and Indonesian coffee shops in Ballarat, Victoria

    “You never know what will happen in the next six months or year.”…Lily Wright. Comprehensive: Guardian design

    I've been wondering what the (Ballarat) Council can do to help small businesses. Many people say that the first year is the hardest and then it will be easier, but so far it has not been.

    Read more here


  4. Brent Daylight

    Run your own business and work a second job in Perth, Western Australia

    "Did I keep grinding for 12 hours?" ...Brent Daylight. Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    Aboriginal Australians face such a harsh stereotype, but there are a lot of successful Aboriginal businesses that I want to be one of them.

    Read more here


  5. Todd Boorer

    Carry out mowing operations in Lake Macquarie, NSW six days a week

    “If everyone is devoted and does their own work, everyone will benefit from it, but it starts with you doing something,” … Todd Boerer. Comprehensive: Guardian Design/Getty Images

    When politicians try to be one of us, one thing people often botheres people, pretending they are like men on the street because they are not.

    Read more here


  6. Ed Bryant

    Teachers and football coaches in Melbourne, Victoria

    “For future generations, as an educator, my focus on environmental factors is more important than anything else.” Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    HECS debt, this is a big problem. It indexes more than my full-time job on graduate salary.

    Read more here


  7. John Sparrow

    Retired Farmers in Talmbend, South Australia

    "This generation of younger generations will bring themselves home?" ... John Sparrow. Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    You used to have the Prime Minister show the road and make things work, but I think the last good Prime Minister was before my time, when they built the Snow Mountain Project…

    Read more here


  8. Holli Brunckhorst

    Babysitter and speech therapy assistant in Brisbane, Queensland

    “Everything, even mainstream media, can’t always be trusted 100% of the time. Everyone has an agenda,”…Holly Brookster. Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    …They raised my rent from $50 at the end of this month. When I moved four years ago, it was $260 a week, and now it is $400, which is a lot.

    Read more here


  9. Federico Canas Velasco

    Students and part-time workers in Sydney, New South Wales

    "…With housing, it doesn't seem to be better at all," said Federico Canas Velasco. Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    Things like groceries are absolutely ridiculous. Price of eggs! Medicare also recently, I just hurt my fingers and it's hard to find GPs that are piled up in bulk in my area.

    Read more here


  10. Chantelle Campbell

    Own a clothing store in Exeter and live in Bishopsbourne, Tasmania

    “I’m not confident when I vote to change anything.”… Chantelle Campbell. Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    Don't let the supermarket get rid of everything about yourself. Tacos this week are priced at $9 on this week’s specials, when the standard price was always $5.

    Read more here


  11. willing

    Gardeners in Adelaide, South Australia

    ``There are not many houses around. We took what we could get. Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    We are not slacking off, we are not the lazy generation. We put a little punch from the older generation, but I was busy.

    Read more here


  12. Irfan Syed

    IT workers from Melbourne, Victoria

    “Australia is one of the few countries that provide such a good support system for children with special needs.” Comprehensive: Shadi Khan/Guardian

    My biggest pressure is to support as many children as possible with my special needs – which is a huge challenge for us. Thankfully, we have the support of NDIS and the government. Without these, it is indeed an impossible task for anyone.

    Read more here


  13. Ann-Marie Thomas

    Nurse in Toomelah, Queensland

    “It’s hard for us to do anything together as a family because of the price we pay,” …Ann-Marie Thomas. Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    I'm angry with all the politicians. The first thing you hear every time you turn on the TV is all these things like “Let’s cancel Welcome to the country”. Why? I don't understand the cost of it. I think it's pretty. Is it because I am an indigenous person, and I am the only one who sees its beauty?

    Read more here


  14. Amelia got it

    Students and cafe jobs in Melbourne, Victoria

    ``They are talking about cutting the HEC. I'm really looking forward to seeing if this happens,'…Amelia Makin. Comprehensive: Guardian design/guardian

    I don't trust anyone, but I get all the information from Instagram or YouTube.

    Read more here