In a result that reshaped Sydney’s electoral map, Labor’s Zhi Soon defeated Liberal frontbencher David Coleman in the seat of Banks during the 2025 federal election. The win, achieved on a swing of nearly 6%, marks Labor’s return to a once-safe seat it had lost over a decade ago – and highlights deeper shifts in voter priorities across Australia’s multicultural suburbs.

A Return to Labor Roots

Banks had been in Liberal hands since 2013, with Coleman regarded as a high-profile figure in the opposition. Zhi Soon, a former diplomat and policy adviser, ran for the seat in 2022 and narrowly lost. His 2025 campaign built on that groundwork, resonating with an electorate that has undergone major demographic changes.

Soon’s victory was not just a personal achievement, but a broader signal of change. It marked Labor’s first win in Banks since 2010, driven by a combination of grassroots campaigning, changing demographics, and disillusionment with the Liberal Party’s national direction.

Diversity Drives Representation

With less than 56% of its population born in Australia and strong Chinese, South Asian, and Middle Eastern communities, Banks is among Sydney’s most diverse electorates. Soon’s personal story as a Malaysian-born Australian who grew up locally struck a chord in an electorate where cultural representation matters.

His campaign maintained a strong presence at community events and in ethnic media, positioning him as someone who genuinely understood the area’s evolving identity. In contrast, some voters felt the incumbent was no longer as engaged with the local community as in earlier terms.

Ground Game and Community Focus

Zhi Soon’s campaign prioritised “bread and butter” issues – housing affordability, Medicare access, and cost-of-living relief. These local concerns dominated conversations in Banks, a seat known as part of Sydney’s mortgage belt.

With interest rates and grocery prices rising, cost-of-living pressures became central to the election. Labor’s promises on bulk-billing, child care subsidies, and targeted financial relief helped persuade many undecided voters. Soon’s messaging was seen as practical and focused, while Coleman’s national-facing portfolio as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs did not always translate to local impact.

Political analyst Kos Samaras, director of RedBridge Group, told Evening Report that the Liberal Party misjudged what mattered to suburban communities: “They [the Liberals] obviously thought that the outer suburbs voting No [in the Voice referendum] meant the outer suburbs were animated by this issue, when in reality… it wasn’t a top-order issue for them.”

Preferences and Minor Party Impact

While both major parties saw dips in their primary vote, minor parties gained traction. In Banks, support for the Greens and right-wing alternatives surged to nearly 20% combined. These preference flows proved decisive.

Samaras noted that a collapse in the Liberal first-preference vote, with many defectors flowing preferences to Labor, effectively sealed Coleman’s fate. “The Liberal vote bled to minor parties, and those preferences ultimately helped Labor over the line,” he said.

This is consistent with national results, where Labor picked up multiple marginal seats due in part to preference leakage from the Coalition’s base.

Broader Shifts Across Sydney

Banks wasn’t the only seat to flip. Labor recorded sweeping wins across metropolitan Sydney in 2025, including Bennelong and Hughes. Following the election, the Liberal Party held only one seat south of Sydney Harbour – a sharp contrast to its previous urban stronghold.

Former Liberal minister Ken Wyatt, speaking to The Guardian, criticised the party’s focus on cultural wedge issues like opposition to Welcome to Country ceremonies: “Doubling down on culture wars… is not the way you bring people forward.” He argued that the party’s tactics alienated voters in diverse electorates and failed to address real economic anxieties.

The Road Ahead

Zhi Soon enters Parliament with a strong mandate and high expectations. He has pledged to be an active advocate for Banks and to address issues like housing, health care access, and community development. His win is a signal that diverse, growing electorates expect more than national rhetoric — they want action on local needs.

For the Liberal Party, Banks offers a lesson in the cost of drifting away from the everyday concerns of suburban voters. Rebuilding in areas like Banks will require more than policy resets — it will require re-engagement at the grassroots.

As for Banks, 2025 marked a turning point — not just in its political alignment, but in the values and voices its voters chose to elevate.