A weekly tracker tracing the stories, figures and policies driving media and social coverage in the 2026 Victoria State Election across Online News, TV, Radio, Newspaper, Magazine, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Blogs and Forums. This edition covers conversations and coverage from 2nd November – 10th November 2026, highlighting what’s shaping the election conversation.
1. Election Conversation
Media figures cover news coverage of the Victorian state election across TV, radio, newspaper, magazine and online news, while social figures cover public posts from everyone, not just media outlets, across X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Forums and Blogs. The two are counted separately and added together, with no overlap between them.
2. Media Issue of the Week
Big Build Royal Commission Hearings Dominate Election Lead-Up
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Big Build projects began public hearings on Monday, November 6, immediately putting the spotlight on Labor’s signature infrastructure program. Counsel assisting the commission, Michael Borsky KC, framed the Sunbury level crossing removal project as a ‘case study’ of union influence, alleging former premier Jacinta Allan’s office pressured builders in June 2022 to ‘accede to the demands’ of the CFMEU during a costly industrial dispute. Throughout the week, testimony and evidence submissions pointed to broader scrutiny of projects like the West Gate Tunnel, with the commission’s terms of reference explicitly targeting corruption, criminal infiltration, and multi-billion dollar cost blowouts. By Thursday, it was confirmed both Allan and her predecessor Daniel Andrews would be called to give evidence, so the inquiry is likely to remain in the news through the campaign.
For Labor, the hearings put scrutiny on its record of delivering major infrastructure. The commission was established by Premier Ben Carroll’s government, and its hearings examine the cost and management of projects at the centre of that record. The Opposition has pointed to evidence about union pressure and budget overruns in arguing that the government cannot be trusted with major projects. For communications teams, the hearings show how an official inquiry can take up a large share of campaign coverage and keep a government responding to detailed evidence.
The story led media coverage all week, generating over 450 articles and featuring heavily on talkback radio from 3AW to 2SM. The Government Integrity & Accountability theme it falls under took about 13% of social conversation, a smaller share than its news footprint. Coverage was driven by daily reporting on testimony and evidence rather than a single moment on social media. For organisations, it shows how official inquiries can generate sustained coverage over many weeks.
3. What’s happening across media and social?
How the same issues and parties are landing in the news versus in public conversation
36.6%
56.2%
20.0%
13.2%
21.3%
10.1%
4.7%
5.8%
4.4%
1.9%
83.7%
46.0%
66.0%
35.1%
42.7%
41.9%
45.0%
6.7%
21.5%
8.4%
Campaign & Election Process is a bigger talking point in public conversation than it is in the news.
4. Party Share of Conversation
Combined share of media + social mentions this week — attention, not polling
32.6%
25.3%
22.2%
12.0%
7.4%
0.5%
Shares add up to 100% of the six parties shown. Share of conversation measures how much each party was mentioned across media and social this week, not polling, voter intention or electoral support.
5. Top candidates this week
Ranked by combined media + social mentions · share of mentions among the five candidates shown
Liberal · Opposition Leader
37.8%
Labor · Premier
37.0%
One Nation · One Nation leader
12.0%
Labor · former Premier
9.2%
Labor · former Premier
4.0%
Mentions measure attention, not popularity, approval or electoral prospects.
6. Election issues
Top themes this week
Top themes this week, media + social combined · share of mentions among the four themes shown
56.9%
19.1%
17.7%
6.3%
What’s inside each topic?
The specific stories driving each theme above, as a share of that theme’s own coverage
8%
5%
4%
3%
80%
34%
4%
2%
1%
59%
30%
6%
6%
4%
54%
12%
3%
3%
2%
80%
What’s driving conversation about each party?
Each party’s top issues in social conversation this week, other than campaigning and election process — which is the single biggest topic for every party, but is excluded here to surface substantive policy issues
7. Top election promises
This week’s most-covered costed pledges, media + social combined
8. Where the coverage came from
Media type and social platform split this week
Top outlets: News24, 3AW, ABC Radio Melbourne
Most active accounts: Commoncents21, CrogerParody, Dedicatedlyfirm
9. Issues to watch
What communicators should keep an eye on next week
- Monitor the Coalition’s positioning on One Nation, as they rule out a formal deal but face scrutiny over preferences and policy alignment; communicators should watch for any mixed messages that could undermine their credibility or shift the campaign narrative away from their core agenda.
- Track public reaction to the assault on a One Nation volunteer, which could elevate community safety as a dominant campaign issue; this may pressure all parties to harden their law-and-order messaging and could influence voter sentiment on the broader integrity of the election process.
- Watch for how parties navigate the ongoing Royal Commission into the Big Build, as hearings dominate media coverage; this will test their ability to manage reputational risk on government accountability while pivoting to promote their own infrastructure and spending promises.
If you want to find out more about how Isentia can help you understand the Victoria state election media landscape, please reach out to us here.
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