Who's on the Overt list?
Following Albanese, Jim Chalmers and Penny Wong, Labor’s union base is represented by Sally McManus, who moves to fourth place and is described as the most powerful non-government figure in Australia.
AFR Power List 2025: No coalition figures as podcasters gain political clout
The AFR panel could not find a place for one single Coalition, Greens, Teal, or crossbench politician.
By Frances SheenPublished Sep 26, 2025
3 min read
For the first time in a quarter of a century, no opposition figure appears on any of the three Australian Financial Review Magazine Power Lists, Overt, Covert or Cultural.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese once again takes the top spot on the Overt Power list, but the panel of political, business and cultural insiders that compiles the lists could not find a place for one single Coalition, Greens, Teal, or crossbench politician.
The magazine's gatefold cover features Albanese facing the camera surrounded by 28 newly elected Labor MPs and Senators, following the landslide election in May.
This year, Podcast Influencers feature in tenth place on the Overt list, highlighting the growing clout of the format.
Albanese appeared twice this year on SCA's Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki, who were photographed for this issue. The hosts, finalists in this year’s Mediaweek Next of the Best Awards, persuaded the Prime Minster to use the words “delulu with no solulu” in Parliament.
Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki
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“The power of Albanese in 2025 is as close to absolute as is feasible under Australia’s constitution,” said AFR Magazine editor Matthew Drummond.
“In the view of several members of the Power panel, he’s the most powerful prime minister since John Howard.
"That said, there’s a brittleness beneath this power base with Labor’s share of the primary vote at record lows and wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and an unpredictable United States, destabilising the government.”
The AFR panel who decide the Power Lists is yet to be revealed.
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