Q: “What should Christians consider in casting a vote this year in the Australian federal election?”

1. Rev Melissa Lipsett, CEO, Baptist World Aid Australia

In considering how they will vote, Christians should consider God’s call to care for the poor and those in our world who are vulnerable and subject to injustice.  Given that there are over 2000 instances of this in scripture, it is clearly something God takes very seriously indeed.  So should we.  Australia is one of the safest, healthiest and most generous countries in the world. But in recent years, Australia’s commitment to being a generous global citizen has declined, so that now only 0.7% of the federal government budget is spent on international humanitarian aid and development.  As global needs have risen, Australia has given less.  As others step back, now is a critical time for Australia (and Christians) to step forward.  As a federal election approaches, now is the time to tell your local MP that Australia Aid matters.  And when the time comes to vote, please make sure you understand your preferred party’s approach and budget commitment to humanitarian aid.  A fairer, more equitable world is better and safer for all of us!

2) Professor Neil Ormerod, Catholic, Honorary Professor at Alphacrucis University College

Politics is, or at least should be, about promoting the common good. And a good society is measured by how it treats the least powerful, those most in need. I would ask people to consider how our various political parties work to achieve a just and fair society for all its residents, especially for those living on social security and unemployment benefits and those seeking asylum in Australia. Will the government adopt a punitive stance based on “othering” these people or an inclusive stance that strengthens our bonds as a nation? I would also hope those voting would be concerned with those beyond our nation’s boundaries, the global poor and those affected by climate change. Climate change is undoing all the progress made globally on eliminating poverty and is even starting to impact significantly on communities in Australia through floods and bushfires. The global poor are our “Lazarus at the gate” (Luke 16:19-31), and our treatment of them will determine how we are judged.

3) Rev Dr Christine Redwood, board member, Open Baptist Association, Senior Pastor Seaforth Baptist Church

This election, as a Christian, I am looking for politicians who desire to serve their community, especially the most vulnerable. Knowing Jesus and his ways has shaped me in this direction. However, it sometimes feels foolish to advocate for and care about things like increasing the foreign aid budget. This has been a long-term concern for me, and while I am encouraged to see I am standing alongside a whole range of churches and Christian leaders who also believe this is crucial, I recognise how hard this is to change. Just as I am looking for politicians who are brave enough to take on powerful vested interests and support gambling reform, this also seems like a long shot! We scatter seeds of grace and see what grows. I take comfort as I vote that the Spirit of God is always at work in our country, regardless of who is elected and whatever policies are enacted. Voting is important, but it’s just one way we can engage. Christians should seek to be active citizens seeking the common good the whole year round.  

4) Rev Mark Wilson, Australian Baptist Ministries, Director of Ministries

Christians voting in the Australian Federal election should consider candidates and policies through the lens of biblical values, such as justice, compassion, integrity, and the common good. Key issues might include religious freedom, care for the vulnerable, ethical governance, and stewardship of resources. It’s important to pray for wisdom, research party platforms, and vote in a way that reflects both faith and a commitment to the well-being of all Australians. Engaging respectfully in political discussions and seeking unity amid diversity can also be a meaningful expression of Christian witness.

5) Adam Gowen, Wiradjuri man and Aboriginal Christian leader, Deputy Chair of Common Grace board 

I encourage Christians to prayerfully and compassionately approach their democratic duty of casting their ballot for the election of our political leaders. Our advocacy for the ‘least of these’ mustn’t be restricted to acts of service on the individual level. While these are important, we need to consider how a just society might look and what policies and practices of our government at the national level might move us towards a national community that looks more like the Kin(g)dom of God in which the flourishing of individuals, communities, and creation abounds.

6) Rev Dr Steve Bartlett, Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT, Director of Ministries

1. We can give thanks to God that we live in a country that operates with democratically elected governance.
2. How are the values of Jesus’s Kingdom expressed in the policies of each candidate and their party?  Things like generosity, justice towards those without power, responsible stewardship (both in planned use of the government’s economic resources and in the broader sense – eg environmental, social).  As this is a federal election, these considerations extend to the place of Australia as a middle power globally and how we use that standing and influence for good.
3. No party or candidate is perfect.  We do well to remind ourselves that supporting a particular party or candidate does not mean we will agree with all of their policies.  We still have a responsibility to discern what is the best way of casting our vote with the desire for Australia and beyond to flourish in line with the values of the Kingdom.
4. Act. It is important to pray as the election draws near and for those (particularly those of the Christian faith) who are putting themselves forward to serve.  We can also take advantage of opportunities to get to candidate forums (for example, those in local churches in many electorates organised by Freedom for Faith), which are non-partisan opportunities to hear what candidates are standing for.

7) Rev. Jon Owen, CEO / Pastor, Wayside Chapel

Election season rolls around, and with it comes the usual noise. But for those of us trying to walk in the way of Jesus, the question at the ballot box is pretty simple: Does my vote reflect love? Justice is love in action—it’s what love looks like in public. Jesus calls us to love not just in words but in the way we shape our world. So, do the policies we support lift up the most vulnerable? Do they move us toward healing and reconciliation? Do they care for God’s good creation? Or do they just serve our own interests? Loving our neighbour means choosing justice, even when it costs us something. If our faith is real, it has to show up not just in our prayers but in our politics, too.

8) Jo Knight, CEO Anglican Overseas Aid

The opposite of love is indifference, and we cannot allow ourselves to be indifferent as we approach voting in the federal election. In Australia, we can embrace the blessing of a peaceful democracy and use the opportunity for good. As the CEO of Anglican Overseas Aid, I meet passionate Christians worldwide who yearn for freedom and work tirelessly in their communities amidst poverty and heartbreak as agents of compassion, justice, and peace.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to care for both people and God’s creation. Embracing this calling in every aspect of our lives is a profound expression of our love for God, our neighbours, and our world. Our everyday actions—how we live, vote, give financially, speak up, and pray—become powerful acts of worship and responses to God’s call.

Ordinary voters wield significant influence in democratic elections, granting political permission for how our elected officials serve in our communities. Let’s boldly advocate for justice and champion policies that care for people and the planet because, in God’s wisdom, that is good for us, too. Together, we can create a future where the people and places we love thrive.

For my family, this has included engaging in a recent Australian aid electoral forum with various candidates at a local church and gathering women from my church to write postcard messages to MPs through the Safer World for All campaign. By coming together, we can support each other and create maximum impact as we strive to fulfil God’s good purposes.

9) Rev Dr Jacqueline Grey, Professor of Biblical Studies, Director, Australasian Pentecostal Studies Centre (APSC)

Sometimes, I hear people talking about politics as though the government is just a big corporation that manages our national budget. They seem to think we just need good economic managers to run the country like a successful business – as though the Prime Minister is just a CEO who must balance the budget well. While we do want our political leaders to be good economic managers, the government is not a large corporation, and they are certainly not only concerned with fiscal management. The government sets the policies and plans for our cultural and social future, which includes the budget, laws, and various activities to serve our national interests. While the current challenges of the cost of living seem to dominate political discussions at the moment, I would encourage voters to take a step back and to consider what kind of nation they desire and what kind of values they would seek to be nurtured in our community, and to vote accordingly.  

10) Rev Stu Cameron, CEO and Superintendent of Wesley Mission (Uniting)

As with every activity under the sun, casting our vote provides believers a worship opportunity. When I enter the polling booth, my only true allegiance is not to any political party or ideology or to my own self-interest but to King Jesus. Casting my vote, I’m asking myself how I best love and honour God and neighbour as I do. For me, that includes paying particular attention to what will benefit the poor, the dispossessed and the marginalised.

11) Rev Dr Mike Bird, Deputy Principal: Academic Ridley College (Anglican)

The next federal election is one where we need to consider which government will best deliver on several things: (1) Bringing down interest rates by controlling inflation and then diversifying the economy away from reliance on the mining sector; (2) Address the housing supply and rental crisis; (3) Managing relationships with a volatile Chinese and US governments; (4) Creating renewable energy that is affordable and reliable; and (4) Demonstrating a strong commitment to civic rights like freedom of speech, religion, conscience, and association in the face of progressive threats to them.

12)  Dr Justine Toh, Senior Fellow, Centre for Public Christianity

“Read the best commentary and analysis that comes from ‘the other side’ so you aren’t relying on your own projections, assumptions and – let’s be honest – prejudices of what ‘they’ think. We’re not as politically polarised as other countries, but we shouldn’t take that for granted. The less we are dealing with a fantasy version of The Person Who Votes For The Other Guys, the better.”

13) Rev Dr Gordon Preece, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Anglican)

Much pressure, e.g. cost of living concerns, will focus on the local, e.g. on housing – especially for younger people and older women most at risk of homelessness. 

But simultaneously, we need a wider, global perspective under a broad heading of Security: of the global ecological situation, food, aid and trade catastrophes caused by Trump, IDF and Gaza genocide. Add in Ukraine and China’s soft and hard diplomacy, and we need some resetting. Our tendency to automatically support US war adventurism since 1917 and put all our defence eggs in the fragile Aukus basket needs to be overridden by the need to forge alternative, preferably bipartisan security arrangements.

Add security for women, ie protection from violence and economic coercion.

14) Most Rev Kanishka Raffel, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney

As a Christian, I approach the election with a sense of gratitude rather than cynicism. I’m grateful to God for the freedom to participate in the election of our government and for a relatively stable and accountable government. I want to make my decision with hope rather than despair, believing that government can do good – recognising the limits of what government can achieve but also the considerable resources that are available to achieve positive things for the community. And I want to vote with a sense of what will benefit others, not just myself – the most needy, the most vulnerable, the least powerful in the community. I expect the government to represent the will of the people that everyone should enjoy a minimum level of security, dignity and opportunity, especially in regard to housing, health and education. 

15) Aux-Lieut Rosy Keane, Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, Salvation Army Australia

God tells us that if we love Jesus, we must feed His sheep, love one another as ourselves, and dedicate our strength, intellect, lives, and love to making love the center of our lives. As we vote this year, asking ourselves, “What is it that Jesus requires of me?” is perhaps the most important guiding question. This means we must use our entire conscience to consider the impact politics has on the material reality of the most vulnerable. How will the assets, resources, forces, and policies of the party you vote for work together to create a better future for those we are accountable for protecting, such as the widow, the foreigner, and the orphan?