#AusVotes2019 sizzles to a close with 28 million Tweets

As #AusVotes19 wraps, let’s take a look back on the conversations and candidates that had Australia talking. Aussies turned to Twitter for breaking news, to see what was happening around the nation, and to engage in conversations about the policy issues that mattered to them most.

The democracy sausages and campaign trail sizzled. It was a tight campaign that saw the return of the Coalition to Government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) thanked his supporters in a Tweet with a photo of his family from his victory speech.

#AusVotes19 was the most talked about topic on Twitter in Australia in the year to date (yes, even beating out the leadership race on #GameofThrones). From the day the election was announced on 11 April until polls closed on 18 May, Twitter recorded 28 million Tweets. Here’s how conversation played out across the country on election day:

Throughout the campaign period, politicians and political parties used Twitter to communicate with Australian citizens in the country and across the world. As voters got ready to go to the polls, some of the most Tweeted moments included:

1. Scott Morrison going to the Governor General to call the election
2. The first #LeadersDebate
3. The #MyMum movement taking shape on Twitter

Along with the candidates and parties, Aussies took to the platform to ask questions about the political party policies and campaign issues directly to the contesting leaders. New research shows 71% of Aussie Twitter users that have Tweeted at a government official received a reply.

While Australians discussed, debated, and learned about a variety of issues that mattered to them (tax, economic growth, and climate change ranked the highest), it became clear that one particular topic was uniting all Australians.

The most talked about election-related topic was our beloved @DemSausage. Australia’s favourite Election Day delicacy inspired more than 2 million Tweets alone. Working with developers @proxima_io on Election Day, Twitter users could send a DM to @TwitterAU to find their local polling station, their candidates, and of course find their local sausage sizzle.

Conversation about Australia’s most cherished national past time, the #DemocracySausage, trended at #1 in Australia for more than seven and a half hours. It also trended in nine countries and 114 cities around the world as voters found sausage sizzles at polling stations worldwide!

The health of the public conversation on Twitter is critical during elections, which is why Twitter took additional steps and action to protect the integrity of this #AusVotes2019 election. We launched the Ads Transparency Centre to ensure information and transparency about political advertising by parties and candidates in the lead up to election day. 

Twitter will continue to work together with elected officials, government entities, industry peers, outside experts, and other stakeholders so that Australians can continue to feel empowered by the platform and hold their elected representatives accountable through dialogue and healthy conversation.