Opposition Parties Target Chinese Australian Voters Ahead of Election

With the election looming, Australia's opposition is courting Chinese Australian voters, particularly through Chinese social media apps like WeChat, which was once deemed a security risk. Candidates recognize the significance of this demographic and are attempting to regain trust after the last election saw a major swing away from the traditional conservative base.

With the federal election imminent in Australia, opposition candidates from the Liberal-National coalition are strategically focusing their efforts on a demographic they previously alienated: Chinese Australian voters. This community, which constitutes approximately 5.5% of Australia’s population, played a pivotal role in the Labor party’s victory in the last election, contributing to a significant political shift in the country.

Candidates are relying extensively on platforms like WeChat and RedNote to engage these voters, despite earlier apprehensions regarding national security related to Chinese apps. A 2022 Lowy Institute poll highlighted that about 60% of Chinese Australians use WeChat at least daily, making it an effective vehicle for outreach.

Grange Chung, a Liberal candidate for the New South Wales seat of Reid, is one of many putting significant effort into appealing to this community. In a recent WeChat video, he spoke of his family's journey to Australia and his commitment to serve the country, striving to connect emotionally with the electorate. Reid, which leans towards the Labor party, is critical for Chung, who recognizes that winning over areas like Burwood, nicknamed Sydney's second Chinatown, is essential for his campaign.

Observers note that the Liberal party's strategy includes extensive advertising on Chinese platforms, with research indicating over 220 authorized Liberal ads have appeared on WeChat since the beginning of the year—contrasting sharply with roughly 35 from Labor. This indicates a clear pivot towards engaging the Chinese-speaking community amid shrinking polling numbers for the coalition.

However, the political dynamics are complex. Analysts suggest that Chinese Australians have become more politically astute, moving away from previously supporting the Coalition, spurred largely by perceived mishandling of racism during the pandemic and the harsh rhetoric from prior leadership towards China.

The realization that their votes carry significant weight has led some in the community, like Reid resident Henry Luo, to observe a notable increase in targeting by candidates, including partnerships with Chinese influencers to augment their visibility and credibility.

Despite outreach efforts, doubts remain about whether increased social media engagement will translate into actual support. Political scholars caution that disillusionment with ongoing negative portrayals and campaigns, particularly around sensitive issues, may push some voters toward independent candidates who they feel may address local concerns more genuinely.

Concerns intermittently surface among the community regarding how they are perceived. Frustrations regarding narrow portrayals, with sentiments expressing discomfort that the team sees them merely as a voting bloc rather than participating constituents, echo in conversations.

Candidates across various marginal seats, including Bennelong, are embedding multilingual content in their WeChat posts to ensure ease of access; many within the community speak primarily Mandarin or Cantonese, a language barrier that has implications for voter engagement.

The relationship between Australia and China remains a hot topic for many voters, with discussions reflecting fears of increased racism and the impact on business communities connected to China. Campaign strategies around this sensitive topic must be navigated carefully, particularly as Coalition leadership has previously voiced intentions to reduce international student and migrant influxes, raising concerns among those in the Chinese Australian community.

As election day approaches, how effectively the opposition can connect with this critical demographic may shape the outcome of the polls and the future landscape of Australian politics.