With Australia's 2025 federal election just one day away, we wanted to hear from the Hireup community about their hopes, uncertainties and everything in between for the election.
We asked: "What issues matter most to you this election, and why?"
We received 41 responses, and three topics clearly emerged as top priorities for everyone. They were:
Here's what some community members had to say:
NDIS
Firstly, an overwhelming number of community members mentioned the NDIS as an issue close to their heart this election, with 41% writing about it in their submission.
- “[My hope is] that the NDIS will be used to support people with a disability. Not just treated as a cost to the government. We need more, continued support for people with a disability. People with a disability are not a number on a ledger. Give us the proper support and we are valuable members of the community. We always have been.” – Roland, support worker.
- “While the NDIS has not received high coverage this election. I believe it is fundamental in making a difference in the lives of those it caters to. While there may be benefits to 'reduce fraud and wasteful spending,' I believe that the NDIS is not broken, and doesn't need fixing.” – Chris, support worker.
- “Properly funded public services, especially NDIS.” – Bridie, client.
Housing
It’s clear that housing is a big concern for our community this election – not just in terms of unaffordability, but also due to accessibility issues.
In fact, 23% of respondents shared that this is something that’s weighing heavily on their mind as they head to the polls.
- “A lot of people with disability lack access to affordable housing, or are homeless. They then have to deal with… homelessness and the risk of being homeless because of not having affordable housing.” – Nidhi, client.
- “Not enough housing for people with disability.” – Kathy, client.
- “Housing is a concern. Everyone acknowledges this but few dare to suggest prices might beneficially fall.” – Rae, account manager.
- “Housing: unaffordable housing, insufficient housing supply and high rentals.” – Rogelio, support worker.
Climate change
Climate change and renewable energy came up often, with about 1 in 7 respondents mentioning it as something they’re concerned about this election.
- “Development of new environmentally friendly renewable energy to move towards greener and less polluting energy and reducing energy bills long term in doing so.” – Roland, support worker.
- “First and foremost, climate change. Unless we fix this, we cannot really fix anything else.” – Rae, account manager.
- “Environmental protection including climate change action and adaptation planning.” – Deborah, client.
- “The challenge of dealing with climate disasters and emergency planning for people with disability. People with disabilities can’t access adequate emergency information in time, so they are often left behind in disasters and people don’t know that they need help.” – Nidhi, client.
What political parties are saying
Interestingly, while 41% of our community is concerned with issues surrounding the NDIS and its future, it hasn't been a key talking point of this election for any of the major parties.
So, we asked each major party what their stance and policy on disability is.
Labor, the Coalition (Liberal and National Party), and the Greens all told us the same thing – they see the NDIS as a top priority and are committed to improving outcomes for participants.
To find out more on what each party said, you can read their responses to us in this article.
In summary
While the NDIS, accessible housing, and climate change are a significant focus, the Hireup community is also concerned about a range of issues affecting all Australians.
Other issues you told us about include: the cost of living, trust in leadership, respect for people with disability, employment opportunities, inclusive education, fairer wages, access to dental care, and tax reform.
As we prepare to fire up BBQs to grill our democracy sausages and head toward polling places tomorrow, it’s clear our community cares about the future of the NDIS and a range of broader issues that affect everyday life.
This election, as with every election, provides a chance to address these issues. So, get ready to have your say this election day.
Want to learn more about the upcoming Australian federal election? Check out our 2025 Election Hub for everything you need to know.
