SBS launches ‘Party Time’ podcast to engage young voters ahead of federal election

SBS News has launched a new political podcast aimed at helping young voters navigate the 2025 federal election campaign, as political leaders increasingly turn to new media to connect with the next generation of voters.

The six-part series, titled Party Time, is hosted by SBS journalists Elfy Scott and Rania Yallop and will break down key political issues, party promises and election tactics in a digestible, engaging format. The first episode goes live on Friday, 4 April.

With younger Australians set to play a pivotal role in the upcoming election, SBS is aiming to bridge the information gap for first-time voters and those disconnected from traditional political coverage.

The timing is significant. Millennials and Gen Z are expected to overtake baby boomers as the dominant voting bloc at this year’s federal election on 3 May. This demographic also makes up more than 70% of Australia’s podcast listeners and political leaders are shifting strategies to engage audiences through podcasts and other digital-first formats.

“It's important that young voters have access to political content that’s made for them,” Yallop said. “Our aim is to make those political debates a little less dry and more digestible for the average 18-30-year-old who may be voting for the first time or have been a bit lost and disconnected with the news cycle.”

Each 30-minute episode of Party Time will focus on one major topic in the lead-up to the election, from campaign strategy and climate policy to cost-of-living debates and misinformation tactics. The series will feature appearances from political reporters and subject-matter experts.

The launch of Party Time reflects the broader shift in how political communication is evolving this election.

Australian political leaders have increasingly adopted strategies used in US and UK election cycles, appearing on podcasts, livestreams and non-traditional media to reach digitally native voters.

The first episode of Party Time will explain how political campaigns are run, followed by weekly episodes covering policy, party positioning and what voters can expect on the ground as election day approaches.