PublicOpinion

The Queensland government has come under fire for showcasing an e-bike rider cruising along a popular Gold Coast beach in its latest tourism campaign. The one-minute promotional clip, part of the newly launched "That Holiday Feeling" brand, depicts a man riding an electric bike across the sandy shores of Surfers Paradise — a scene that has drawn criticism from the state's cycling body and raised concerns among local authorities.

One of the most striking trends to emerge from the 2025 campaign is the rise of the "soft voter" — Australians whose political allegiances are fluid and less grounded in traditional party loyalty. According to Samaras, these voters are not simply switching between Liberal and Labor but are increasingly drifting toward minor parties or independent candidates.