Has News Corp Australia become a sheep in wolf’s clothing? Or does it remain a wolf in wolf’s clothing?

The question of whether the influence of the Murdochs’ media outlets is waning has been given fresh impetus following the result of the Australian federal election in May 2025. News Corp Australia’s outlets campaigned strongly for the return of the Liberal/National Party coalition government which had been ousted at the previous election in 2022, but the Labor government was returned with a thumping majority. Was this apparently diminished influence on the electorate due to the overall waning influence of the mainstream media or was it tied to the rise of alternative sources of information for many voters? Did News Corp Australia still wield influence in other ways, as was suggested by the role it played in two controversies over the sacking of a casual ABC presenter and the selection of an artist to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale? This commentary examines these questions. It argues News Corp Australia outlets remain influential in shaping the news agenda and in ways that are often unhealthy.