A video shared thousands of times on a Chinese social media platform claiming a re-elected Albanese government would adopt “the far-left agenda” of the Greens and potentially seize vacant homes was created by a member of a WeChat group campaigning for theLiberal partyin a marginal Melbourne seat.The six-minute video, narrated by a woman who refers to herself as Auntie Guoer, also claims anyminority Albanese governmentthat might rely on the Greens would “crackdown on the middle class” and lead to the decline of “traditional social structures”.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletterScreenshots obtained by Guardian Australia show Auntie Guoer became a member of a WeChat group called the “Aston Liberal Party campaign group” in August 2024. Aston is a Labor-held marginal seat in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs that isbeing targeted by the Liberals. It has one of the largest Chinese-Australian communities in Victoria.Interactive guide to electorates in the 2025 Australian election: from safe to marginalRead moreAuntie Guoer confirmed she was a member of the group when contacted by Guardian Australia and described herself as a longtime supporter of the Liberal party, though not a financial member. She said she voluntarily made the video, which had so far been shared close to 2,000 times.The voting intentions of the Chinese-Australian community could decide the outcome of several marginal seats including Menzies, Aston and Chisholm in Melbourne, and Bennelong in Sydney. Guardian Australia has revealed Chinese content creators on WeChat and Rednote areincreasingly sharing political content to influence voters.The video was referred to the Australian Electoral Commission for consideration by Dr Corinne Ang, who alleged it contained misinformation designed to sway the voting intentions of Chinese Australians.The video’s political message is broadcast over vision of a woman painting furniture, and tending to geese, goats and bees in a large back yard, set to traditional Chinese music. The woman’s voiceover in Mandarin is accompanied by subtitled captions in Mandarin and English.The video claims the Greens want to ban the purchase of investment homes without solar energy and describes Greens policies as “an undisguised plunder” on the middle class. It suggests Anthony Albanese is not opposed to the Greens policy platform.4:48Voting 101: Who are the Australian political parties clamouring for your vote? – video“In the face of the radical policy of the Green party, theLabor partyis not firmly against it,” the video claims. “Instead, it frequently compromises.”“The Labor party has acquiesced in the compulsory solar energy [program] of the Green party, making it enter the reading stage in parliament.”Labor has no plans to force people to install solar panels, but hasannounced financial incentives for people that do so. The Coalition has flagged similar policies.The video states that many voters may believe they are voting for a “gentle person” but end up with someone “full of radical ideas”. It urges viewers to think carefully before voting, and warns of wealth distribution.skip past newsletter promotionSign up toAfternoon Update: Election 2025Free daily newsletterOur Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersEnter your email addressSign upPrivacy Notice:Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see ourPrivacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the GooglePrivacy PolicyandTerms of Serviceapply.after newsletter promotion“If you oppose the radical policies of the Green party, but mistakenly thought the Labor party is still the ruling party that is balanced and rational, you may help the Greens get the key to enter the power centre,” the video says.Captions on the video also incorrectly claim the Greens had proposed the “forced collection of vacant homes from private landlords”.Auntie Guoer said that she had “never been asked to create videos by anyone” and that “any critics who think my videos contain incorrect information can directly contact me”.“I always acknowledge the belief of the Liberal party,” Auntie Guoer said.An AEC spokesperson told Guardian Australia it was “not the arbiter of truth in communications or the internet police”.“Our advice to all voters is to stop and consider the source of information people are hearing, reading or seeing,” an AEC spokesperson said. “If you can’t determine the source, consider other or multiple sources. We’re also encouraging all voters to have a healthy level of scepticism for any communication.”The Greens spokesperson for democracy, Larissa Waters, said the video was an attempt to “influence voters with misinformation about the Greens”.“The AEC will only be able to consider the missing authorisation statement and not the misleading information in the video, as there are still no laws that require truth in political advertising,” Waters said.The Labor campaign declined to comment.
Video claiming re-elected Labor would ‘plunder’ middle class made by member of WeChat Liberal campaign group
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Video Alleging Labor Will Adopt Greens' Policies Created by Liberal Campaign Group Member"
The Guardian
5.9
TruthLens AI Summary
A video circulating widely on WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform, has sparked controversy by claiming that a re-elected Albanese government would adopt extreme leftist policies influenced by the Greens, leading to potential harm to the middle class. The six-minute video, narrated by a member of a Liberal Party campaign group, Auntie Guoer, asserts that a minority government reliant on the Greens would implement measures that could undermine traditional social structures and impose a crackdown on the middle class. This video, which has been shared nearly 2,000 times, comes at a crucial time for the Labor Party, as it faces challenges in marginal seats like Aston, which has a significant Chinese-Australian community that could sway the election outcome. Auntie Guoer, although not a formal member of the Liberal Party, identifies herself as a long-time supporter and claims to have created the video independently to express her political views.
The claims made in the video include accusations that the Greens wish to ban investment homes lacking solar energy and that the Labor Party has capitulated to the Greens' radical policies. Despite the Labor Party's assertion that it does not plan to mandate solar panel installations, the video presents a narrative suggesting that voters who believe they are supporting moderate policies may inadvertently empower more extreme agendas. The Australian Electoral Commission has received a referral regarding the video for potentially containing misinformation aimed at influencing the voting decisions of Chinese Australians. In response, the Greens have labeled the video as an attempt to mislead voters. The AEC has noted its limitations in regulating political communications, advising voters to critically assess the information they encounter and consider its sources carefully.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article sheds light on a politically charged video circulating on WeChat, which claims that a re-elected Labor government under Albanese would adopt extreme leftist policies. This video, produced by a member of a campaign group for the Liberal Party, aims to influence the voting behavior of the Chinese-Australian community in key marginal electorates. The narrative presented has significant implications for the political landscape leading up to the 2025 Australian election.
Political Manipulation and Targeting
The video suggests that if the Labor Party forms a minority government with the support of the Greens, it will adversely affect the middle class and traditional societal structures. This framing appears to be a deliberate strategy to mobilize voter sentiment among the Chinese-Australian community, particularly in seats where the Liberals are seeking to gain ground. By portraying the Labor party as a threat, the creators of the video aim to consolidate support for the Liberal Party.
Misinformation Concerns
Dr. Corinne Ang's referral of the video to the Australian Electoral Commission indicates that there are allegations of misinformation being spread to manipulate voter intentions. Given the increasing influence of Chinese content creators on social media platforms like WeChat, this highlights a growing concern about the authenticity and reliability of the information being circulated within that community.
Public Perception and Trustworthiness
The overarching aim of this article seems to be to raise awareness regarding the use of social media as a tool for political propaganda targeting specific demographics. It invites scrutiny of the content shared within these platforms and encourages the electorate to question the motives behind such videos. The article implicitly advocates for the need to critically evaluate political messages disseminated within minority communities.
Impact on Political Landscape
The potential for this video to influence the outcome of several marginal seats underscores its significance in the broader electoral context. The voting patterns of the Chinese-Australian community could indeed be pivotal in determining the balance of power in the upcoming election. This suggests that political parties may increasingly invest in tailored messaging to appeal to specific voter bases.
Community Engagement and Division
The narrative may resonate more with individuals who are already aligned with the Liberal Party's values and views, as opposed to those with a more progressive stance. The choice of a Chinese narrator and the use of culturally relatable imagery in the video indicates a targeted approach to engage a specific demographic, potentially deepening divisions within the electorate.
Economic and Market Implications
While the article does not directly address economic implications, the highlighted political tensions could influence market perceptions and investor confidence. Particularly, sectors that are sensitive to changes in government policy might respond to the political climate leading up to the elections. For instance, housing and real estate sectors could be impacted by policies regarding vacant homes.
Global Context and Current Relevance
This news item reflects broader global trends of misinformation and social media's role in shaping political narratives. The political strategies employed in this instance are reminiscent of tactics seen in other democracies, where social media is leveraged to sway voter behavior. The relevance of this article extends to discussions about democratic integrity and the influence of foreign communities in domestic elections. The article's reliability is compromised by its focus on a politically motivated video that may contain misinformation. The intent behind the video's creation and dissemination raises questions about its credibility and the ethical implications of using social media for political gain.