The quiet Australians: How volatile Makin booth of Tea Tree Gully will decide the election

Praise for Pauline Hanson is strong in this unpredictable polling booth where volatile voters say they’re fed up with the major parties ahead of the election.

With praise for Pauline Hanson and disillusion for politicians rife among Tea Tree Gully voters, this knife-edge polling booth is not looking to stabilise at the upcoming election.

The federal seat of Makin went to Labor at the last election, with the volatile booth recording a tiny margin of just 120 votes.

Voters at Tea Tree Gully Primary School polling pool voted Labor in the last election after voting Liberal twice in elections beforehand.

The area is home to a largely white demographic with a median age of 43 and a median weekly income of $1389, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 census.

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The unpredictability of its political leanings was highlighted by a Messenger poll which found a majority of voters either undecided or considering voting for independent candidates.

Steve and Carla Lubcke embodied the area’s disillusionment with politics and said they were unhappy with the government.

“I hate how the last four years have been handled,” Mrs Lubcke said.

“Pauline (Hanson) is in touch with the average Joe Blow on the street.

“People are educating themselves and looking to see what is best for their beliefs and their families.”

The couple agreed they would like to see more transparency in government and would be vote for One Nation.

Steve and Carla Lubcke of Tea Tree Gully. Picture: Emily Jarvis

Sentiment against the major parties was echoed by Alison Buckley, 65, who said the election was rigged and decided by the Queen, but would vote One Nation anyway.

Disillusionment with the system was further supported by Bob who preferred not to disclose his surname.

“All politicians are the same,” he said.

“It’s just a job to them and they only do anything come election, if I could donkey vote I would.”

Parents Shiju and Deepthi Thoms were more trusting of the major parties but said they were undecided on who would win their votes and would be swayed by the budget.

Tea Tree Gully voters Shiju and Deepthi Thoms with their children. Picture: Brinley Duggan

Conversely, local nurse Kirsty Smith, 40, said she had swung in the past but tended to vote Labor.

“I don’t like the way ScoMo has handled things, he doesn’t seem empathetic,” Ms Smith said.

Kristy Smith, 40, Tea Tree Gully

Young voters in the volatile both may hold the power to tip the scales and first time voter Thalia Sangermano said climate change was the issue she was most passionate about.

“Whoever I vote for I just hope they do it right, “ Ms Sangermano said.

Tea Tree Gully voter Thalia Sangermano. Picture: Brinley Duggan

In the 2016 election a section of the community who voted at Tea Tree Gully Primary School appeared to be looking for a new independent candidate based on votes to the Greens and United Australia Party.

With this level of volatility, the way the booth will fall remains anyone’s guess.