Australia votes 2025: The Liberals had a plan to court Chinese Australians. Then they blew it up

Liberal Party's Failure to Win Over Chinese-Australian Voters

The article analyzes the Australian Liberal Party's unsuccessful attempt to regain support from Chinese-Australian voters in the 2025 federal election. Their efforts, including hiring Chinese-speaking staff and creating targeted content, were ultimately undermined by perceived anti-China sentiments and controversial statements from key figures like Peter Dutton.

Key Issues and Controversies

• Negative Perception: The Liberal Party struggled to shake off the perception of being anti-China, stemming from past rhetoric and actions.
• Damaging Video: A video by Penny Wong, highlighting the Liberal Party's questioning of Chinese-Australian loyalty, garnered significant views and negatively impacted their campaign.
• Dutton's Comments: Peter Dutton's identification of China as the biggest national security threat further fueled negative perceptions.
• Misinformation Campaign: Misleading advertisements claiming the Coalition would cut pensions for visa holders circulated widely, further harming their image.

Impact on the Election

Labor's targeted approach, including Wong's WeChat appearances and multilingual communication materials, resonated more effectively with Chinese-Australian voters. This led to Labor winning traditionally Liberal seats with significant Chinese-Australian populations in Melbourne and Sydney.

Internal Criticisms and Analysis

Within the Liberal Party, internal sources blamed the failure on poor messaging, ignoring the concerns of migrant communities, and focusing on culture wars rather than addressing the needs of diverse demographics. There was criticism that the party's strategies were too late and did not account for broader societal shifts.

Conclusion

The article concludes that the Liberal Party's failure to connect with Chinese-Australian voters was a significant factor in their electoral losses. This underscores the need for political parties to engage authentically and sensitively with diverse communities to build trust and secure support.