Post-election reviews conducted by Australia's two major parties have presented differing statuses and findings. The Liberal Party's review into its 2025 federal election campaign has been postponed indefinitely due to concerns raised by former opposition leader Peter Dutton regarding potentially defamatory content. Concurrently, the Labor Party released its own review of the same election, attributing the Coalition's defeat to its campaign strategy and crediting its own positive messaging for its victory.
Liberal Party Review Delayed
The Liberal Party's internal review of its 2025 election campaign has had its release paused. The delay stems from Peter Dutton, who served as opposition leader during the campaign, raising concerns that certain elements within the report are defamatory towards him and members of his staff.
Dutton, along with other key individuals involved in the campaign, was provided with a copy of the report prior to its scheduled public release, following standard procedure. He communicated to the party that releasing the report in its current form could pose legal risks, citing claims he considers defamatory.
The party's secretariat has halted the report's release to address these issues. There have been indications that legal action by Dutton could occur if modifications are not made to the document.
Internal Party Processes and Concerns
During a federal executive meeting where the report was presented, members questioned the timing of Dutton's receipt of the document. After learning that Dutton had received the report only at the time of the meeting, the executive voted against its immediate release. Some members expressed concerns about a potential breakdown in process, suggesting Dutton should have been afforded a right of reply to specific sections, a right reportedly extended to other individuals mentioned in the report.
Pru Goward and Nick Minchin, the authors of the review, informed colleagues that they had applied a consistent process for all interviewees and did not believe further consultation with Dutton was necessary. Conversely, concerns were reportedly raised within the secretariat that Dutton had not been given an adequate opportunity to respond to claims made about him and his staff.
The Liberal Party has now submitted the report to a legal team for review to ensure its compliance and accuracy. A senior source within the party suggested that the report should have undergone legal scrutiny prior to being shared with Dutton, indicating internal process issues.
Dutton reportedly communicated to the party his specific concern that his former chief of staff, Alex Dalgleish, is unfairly targeted in the report and that his staff require protection. The campaign review also reportedly identifies a "Trump effect," which is suggested to have influenced voter perception of Peter Dutton, enabling the Labor Party to accuse him of mirroring rhetoric from the former US president on certain issues, including cuts to the public service.
The concerns raised by Dutton, particularly the suggestion of legal action, are noted as unusual for internal party reviews and are seen to highlight existing divisions within the Liberal Party. A senior Liberal Party source reportedly observed that the 2022 election review had also been critical of then-leader Scott Morrison, implying a different standard being applied. During the 2025 campaign, reports circulated within Liberal headquarters regarding Dutton's team attempting to lead on strategy and direction independently of the campaign's central leadership.
Labor Party Review Findings
The Labor Party's review of the 2025 federal election was released on Friday, concluding that the approach adopted by Peter Dutton contributed to the Coalition’s defeat. The review indicated that Dutton's political strategy, characterized by what it described as poorly designed and explained policies, created a barrier to voter support for the Coalition.
Conversely, the Labor review stated that Anthony Albanese’s campaign message, which focused on positive policies aimed at improving voters’ lives, resonated with the electorate. The report characterized aspects of Dutton's campaign approach as "negative, arrogant, and aggressive."
The review highlighted several deficiencies in the Coalition's campaign, including policy proposals such as government-owned nuclear power and restrictive work-from-home rules for public servants, which it noted were not well received by voters. It also cited inconsistencies, policy changes, poorly coordinated announcements, and a lack of message discipline within Dutton’s campaign. Efforts by the Coalition to frame the election as a referendum on Albanese's first term were deemed unsuccessful, as Labor effectively positioned the debate as a choice between Albanese and Dutton.
Recommendations and Future Focus for Labor
The Labor review also offered recommendations for the party, suggesting a need for modernization, rebuilding grassroots membership, and strategies to counter potential challenges from independent candidates. It described the national political landscape as increasingly complex, likening it to "150 by-elections with unique local dynamics." The report also warned about the risks posed by artificial intelligence and targeted disinformation for future campaigns and advised Labor to emphasize the importance of electing its candidates to the Senate to facilitate legislative reforms.
Responding to the review, Labor’s national president, Wayne Swan, stressed the importance of continued modernization of campaign infrastructure and strengthening the party's grassroots membership. He emphasized that Labor's second term should focus on delivering tangible improvements, maintaining community engagement, and ensuring caucus unity.
Election Outcome Context
The 2025 federal election saw Anthony Albanese's Labor Party secure 94 seats in the lower house, marking its largest majority since federation. The party retained all its incumbent seats, defeated Greens MPs in targeted electorates, and ousted Peter Dutton in his own seat of Dickson. The review praised effective local campaign measures, emphasizing continuous voter engagement as crucial to counter well-resourced challengers.
In contrast, the Liberal Party secured 54 out of 226 seats in Parliament, following a significant reduction in its primary vote, particularly in urban areas. The party also did not secure targeted outer suburban seats as part of Dutton's election strategy.
The findings of Labor's review align with the Australian Electoral Study, which identified a decline in support for the Coalition's economic policies and noted Dutton's lower popularity, while Albanese received more favorable ratings on key attributes.