According to official data after the census in Australia in the summer of 2022, Bulgarians on the Land Down Under are 8,039. They are most numerous in the states of New South Wales - 2 401 and Victoria - 2 156. In the most populous Australian state of Queensland there are 1,216 who have identified themselves as Bulgarians. About 600 of them live in the state capital Brisbane. An hour before the end of polling day at the polling station in Brisbane, the turnout was more than 60% or 64 voters, which was 12 more than the total number for last October's election, Kalina Bogdanova told Radio Bulgaria.This was her fourth election as polling station staff.

People in their 30s and 50s voted, which is also a reflection of the demographics of the diaspora in Australia, according to Kalina. "Because the elderly are from an older emigration that, while it has retained an emotional connection to Bulgaria, has lost touch with its political reality. They do not know in detail what is happening and who to vote for and for this reason they are rarely among the voters. Bulgarians who have left the country no more than fifteen years ago are the ones that go to the polls."

"Many people left the polling station saying 'Let's hope we don't see each other for the next four years'. We definitely hope for a regular government that will work on Bulgaria's pressing goals and problems in the most positive and European way," she told our reporter Vesela Krasteva. According to Kalina Bogdanova, the reason for having to vote five times within two years is due to low engagement caused by the low political culture of Bulgarians.

Our compatriots are tired of such frequent voting - in a big territory like here, in Australia, some need to travel hundreds of kilometres to the nearest polling station, and this has had a serious effect on their motivation to vote, she says.

"For me personally it is very important for Bulgaria to take a very clear Euro-Atlantic course. There must be no wavering in this position. Bulgaria should take a firm direction of fighting corruption and development and reform in most public sectors, starting from health, education and the economy. But above all, I expect Bulgaria to return to a very clear goal and strategic position, a development plan. I think that is what we are lacking most of all at the moment."

She left Bulgaria 8 years ago, in her words - for political reasons. "I did not want to live in a country with so much corruption and dysfunctional institutions. And until these things reach a European and Western world level I have no desire to return. But if that happens - why not.