Deakin experts available for comment 2025 Federal Election

Political analysis:

Teals and independent candidates; women in parliament; parliamentary culture, including codes of conduct; Australia’s refugee and asylum policy; MPs experiences of life after parliament. Dr Amy Nethery, Associate Professor of Politics and Policy – Amy.nethery@deakin.edu.au.

Projected outcomes in federal electorates, particularly Victorian electorates, and evaluations of political campaigns. Dr Geoffrey Robinson, Senior Lecturer in Politics – Geoffrey.robinson@deakin.edu.au.

Tax policy and constitutional law:

Taxation law and policy. Associate Professor Mark Bowler-Smith, Deakin Law School – mark.b@deakin.edu.au.

Constitutional law. Professor Dan Meagher, Chair in Law at Deakin Law School – media@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 18 - 27 April.

Cost of living, housing and energy policy:

Childcare costs and how universal childcare can help Australian families; ‘childcare deserts’ in regional, remote and outer suburban areas of Australia; cost of living; energy policy including the dangers of nuclear energy; inequality and fairness. Emeritus Professor Andrew Scott, Professor of Politics and Policy – a.scott@deakin.edu.au.

Food prices; food affordability; food insecurity; policy actions to equitably improve nutrition across priority populations. Dr Christina Zorbas, Senior Research Fellow at the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition – c.zorbas@deakin.edu.au.

Food prices and food policy. Professor Kathryn Backholer, Professor and Co-Director of the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition – kathryn.backholer@deakin.edu.au.

Housing and housing affordability; property and real estate investments. Associate Professor Adrian Lee, Department of Finance at Deakin Business School – media@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 24-28 April.

The need for government commitment to sustainable housing and housing for the homeless and misplaced populations. Associate Professor Fiona Andrews, Co-Director HOME Research Hub – tania.palich@deakin.edu.au.

Housing and housing affordability; planning and development; property and housing sustainability. Mr Tom Keel, Associate Lecturer Property and Real Estate – media@deakin.edu.au.

Housing and housing affordability. Associate Professor Ameeta Jain, Deakin Business School – Ameeta.jain@deakin.edu.au.

National security, foreign policy and international development:

Foreign aid and international development with specific focus on the Pacific; Australia’s response to China’s growing influence in the region. Deakin Distinguished Professor Matthew Clarke, Professor of Humanitarian and Development Studies – Matthew.clarke@deakin.edu.au. Overseas: 28 March - 6 April (contact via email).

Australian foreign policy, especially in relation to Asia; Australia’s ties to the United States and China. Associate Professor David Hundt, Associate Professor of International Relations – David.hundt@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 28-30 March.

Terrorism, counterterrorism, violent extremism, countering violent extremism, radicalisation, community resilience, community reporting on suspected radicalisation to violence. Professor Michele Grossman AM, Research Chair in Diversity and Community Resilience – Michele.grossman@deakin.edu.au

International politics and foreign policy. Emeritus Professor Damien Kingsbury – Damien.kingsbury@deakin.edu.au

Disinformation; polarisation; radicalisation and resilience to violent extremism; social inclusion; migration; alternative narratives to political discourse, including finding independent perspectives and narratives outside those of the major parties. Dr Vivian Gerrand, Research Fellow at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation Vivian.gerrand@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 15-17 April.

Islamophobia, Middle Eastern politics, particularly in the context of Australia's foreign policies toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and potential diplomatic engagement with Syria's emerging government post-Assad regime. Dr Zouhir Gabsi, Senior Lecturer in Arabic and Islamic studies – Zouhir.gabsi@deakin.edu.au.

Humanitarian affairs; international relations. Associate Professor Mary Ana McGlasson, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership – maryana@cfhl.org.au.

NB: Associate Professor Mary Ana McGlasson is to be attributed as Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership (CHL) in media reports, not as a Deakin spokesperson. CHL is a partnership between Deakin and Save the Children Australia.

Social media and political communication:

How political parties are using Mandarin-language social media platforms such as WeChat to engage with Chinese Australian voters. Dr Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer in Digital Communication – Luke.h@deakin.edu.au.

How the news media is reporting on the election; horse-race coverage vs analysis of issues that matter to voters; media policy; how the ABC and SBS might fare after the election; the ABC’s coverage of the election. The role of News Corp Australia in election coverage. Professor Matthew Ricketson, Professor of Communication – matthew.ricketson@deakin.edu.au

Political communication and the media. Dr Maria Rae, Senior Lecturer in Politics and Policy – Maria.rae@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 7 - 11 April.

Use of social media by political parties; social media ban for children under 16 and children’s screen time; the news media bargaining code; interactions between social media commentators/podcasters and traditional journalists. Dr Christopher Scanlon, Associate Professor and Head of Academic Group, Communication – Christopher.scnalon@deakin.edu.au.

Small Business:

Small business; internationalisation of SME and large organisations; innovation in Australia; industry-university collaborations; Chinese political spectrum. Professor Rui Torres de Oliveira, Director IPA-Deakin SME Research Centre – rui.torresdeoliveira@deakin.edu.au. Overseas: 25 February – 16 March and 9 - 17 May.

Small business; entrepreneurship; active/environmentally friendly transport; Artificial Intelligence. Mr Pete Williams, Professor of Practice Deakin Business School – media@deakin.edu.au.

Infrastructure and waste management:

Big build blowouts and how government needs to manage these projects differently. Dr Dom Ahiaga-Dagbui, School of Architecture and Built Environment Associate Head of School (Research) – tania.palich@deakin.edu.au.

Strategic shipping and supply chain issues post-COVID. Mr Peter Van Duijn, Industry Researcher in Supply Chain and Logistics –tania.palich@deakin.edu.au.

Issues and solutions for waste management. Dr Trevor Thornton, Senior Lecturer in Hazardous Materials –Trevor.thornton@deakin.edu.au.

Environment:

Australia’s threatened species and the need for government to become more involved in their protection. Professor Euan Ritchie, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation – e.ritchie@deakin.edu.au.

How land is being managed and ongoing issues of fires and impacts on flora and fauna. Professor Don Driscoll, Terrestrial Ecology – d.driscoll@deakin.edu.au.

Environmental policy; Community Ecology. Associate Professor Tanya King, Professor of Anthropology –Tanya.king@deakin.edu.au.

Health:

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health systems and services, including primary care and digital health and how resource allocation, funding mechanisms, and policy interventions influence the delivery and outcomes of healthcare services. Professor Suzanne Robinson, Chair and Director of Deakin Health Economics – Suzanne.robinson@deakin.edu.au.

Economic consequences of chronic disease with a particular focus on costing, efficiency and measuring outcomes, including quality of life. Professor Jennifer Watts, Head of Deakin’s School of Health and Social Development – J.watts@deakin.edu.au.

The economic cost of preventable disease; value for money of prevention intervention; economics of obesity prevention; decision-making for preventive health. Associate Professor Jaithri Ananthapavan, Lead at the Economics of Obesity team within Deakin Health Economics (DHE) and the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE) –Jaithri.ananthapavan@deakin.edu.au.

Health law (surrogacy; informal sperm donation; voluntary assisted dying; end-of-life decision making; organ and tissue donation; determination of death and dying; assisted reproduction; emerging reproductive technologies; emerging health technologies; cryonics; bioethics; shaken baby syndrome. Associate Professor Neera Bhatia, Deakin Law School –neera.bhatia@deakin.edu.au.

Education:

School funding (federal and state); how parents choose between public and private schooling for their children; funding and resourcing gaps between private and public schools. Associate Professor Emma Rowe, School of Education –Emma.Rowe@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 7 - 11 April.

Climate change education including schools’ response to climate change; Climate change education policy across Australia; PISA: Program for International Student Assessment – Science 2025; Science education in schools. Associate Professor Peta White, Science and Environmental Education – Peta.white@deakin.edu.au.

Young people’s political activism; climate justice education. Dr Eve Mayes, Senior Research Fellow in the School of Education –Eve.mayes@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 14-22 April.

Human Rights:

Human rights; right to protest; immigration and refugee law. Associate Professor Maria O’Sullivan, Deakin Law School –m.osullivan@deakin.edu.au. Overseas: 11-23 March and 4 April - 2 May.

Domestic violence; gender-based violence; coercive control. Professor Marilyn McMahon, Dean of Deakin Law School –marilyn.mcmahon@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 18 March - 9 April.

Human rights; Australian Human Rights Act; Covid-19 emergency measures. Dr Bruce Chen, Senior Lecturer in Law –media@deakin.edu.au. Unavailable: 4 - 8 May.