Australian Voters ‘Gearing for Change’ From Major Parties Post-COVID: Live Streamer

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (R) and leader of the opposition, Anthony Albanese shake hands at the final leaders' debate of the 2022 at Seven Network Studios in Sydney, Australia on May 11, 2022. Lukas Coch/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Two years of government-mandated lockdowns has left a permanent mark on how suburban and regional Australians approach elections, with voters disillusioned with the major parties and keen for change, according to live streamer Rukshan Fernando.

Fernando was a permanent fixture during months-long protests against COVID-19 regulations in Melbourne in 2021. His live streams of the protests in Melbourne, which provided an alternative view on the lockdowns compared to media outlets and health authorities, helped grow his social media following dramatically to over 400,000.