In Sydney’s Bennelong, where Chinese Australians make up a large share of the electorate, the fight for votes is playing out on unexpected turf: Xiaohongshu.
Labor MP Jerome Laxale, who narrowly won the seat in 2022, has taken to the Chinese lifestyle app—also known as RedNote—distributing 30,000 Lunar New Year red envelopes with QR codes linking to his account. “If you want to connect with voters, you need to be where they are,” he says.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose approval ratings have slipped ahead of the May 3 election, is betting on holding seats like Bennelong. But with inflation biting and economic growth sluggish, it may not be enough.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton, hoping to regain ground lost during Scott Morrison’s confrontations with Beijing, is also courting Chinese Australians, particularly in seats like Victoria’s Chisholm and Menzies. These are areas where the Chinese-Australian vote swung heavily against the Liberals in 2022.
Apps like WeChat and Xiaohongshu are now campaign tools. At least 21 politicians have joined Xiaohongshu, despite mild security concerns. Some, like Liberal MP Keith Wolahan, boast more followers there than on X or TikTok. Xiaohongshu itself appears to throttle political content, but QR-code strategies are keeping candidates visible.
Beyond geopolitics, it’s bread-and-butter issues that may determine the swing. Chinese-Australian small business owners are sensitive to rising interest rates, housing costs, and taxation. Labor points to restored China trade ties. Liberals promise economic relief and support for enterprise.
For voters like mortgage broker Frank Guo in Bennelong, it's a close call. “I voted Labor last time because of the anti-China talk,” he said. “But this time, I may go back to the Liberals—they speak to my class.”
A 15-year-old boy killed a fellow pupil and wounded three others in a stabbing attack at a high school in the western French city of Nantes on Thursday before he was overpowered by teachers, police said.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly rejected claims that the Trump administration is considering lifting sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline as part of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Three people were killed and 10 others injured in a major road accident involving six vehicles in Marikina City, part of the Philippine capital region, late Wednesday night.
The EU’s border agency is pushing for disciplinary action against Greece over ongoing migrant pushbacks, citing repeated human rights abuses and calling for potential infringement proceedings by the European Commission.
A 15-year-old boy killed a fellow pupil and wounded three others in a stabbing attack at a high school in the western French city of Nantes on Thursday before he was overpowered by teachers, police said.
“The EU will stand with Moldova in every step of the way until the very membership,” - stated Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission at her joint press-conference with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu.
In a significant development for Afghanistan-Russia relations, Zamir Kabulov, Special Envoy of the Russian President, held high-level talks with Taliban officials in Kabul, signaling a further warming of ties between the two nations.
Russia and Türkiye will hold consultations on the Middle East, including Syria and Palestine, on 25th April in Istanbul, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source speaking to TASS.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is nearing a defence deal with the EU to reset post-Brexit ties, even as his government courts a U.S. trade deal. Talks will culminate at a May summit, aiming to boost cooperation in defence, energy, and youth mobility.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
A 15-year-old boy killed a fellow pupil and wounded three others in a stabbing attack at a high school in the western French city of Nantes on Thursday before he was overpowered by teachers, police said.
“The EU will stand with Moldova in every step of the way until the very membership,” - stated Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission at her joint press-conference with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is nearing a defence deal with the EU to reset post-Brexit ties, even as his government courts a U.S. trade deal. Talks will culminate at a May summit, aiming to boost cooperation in defence, energy, and youth mobility.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly rejected claims that the Trump administration is considering lifting sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline as part of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
UEFA has opened a new office in Istanbul to support the organization of major tournaments, including the 2026 Europa League final, 2027 Conference League final, and EURO 2032. President Ceferin praised Türkiye’s hosting record and ongoing collaboration.
A 15-year-old boy killed a fellow pupil and wounded three others in a stabbing attack at a high school in the western French city of Nantes on Thursday before he was overpowered by teachers, police said.
“The EU will stand with Moldova in every step of the way until the very membership,” - stated Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission at her joint press-conference with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu.
In a significant development for Afghanistan-Russia relations, Zamir Kabulov, Special Envoy of the Russian President, held high-level talks with Taliban officials in Kabul, signaling a further warming of ties between the two nations.
Russia and Türkiye will hold consultations on the Middle East, including Syria and Palestine, on 25th April in Istanbul, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source speaking to TASS.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is nearing a defence deal with the EU to reset post-Brexit ties, even as his government courts a U.S. trade deal. Talks will culminate at a May summit, aiming to boost cooperation in defence, energy, and youth mobility.
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