The quiet Australians: How Boothby bellwether booth of Seacombe Heights will decide the election

For the past six elections, a Boothby booth has picked the federal election winner – and an early analysis has left Scott Morrison with serious questions to answer.

Scott Morrison is headed for a heavy election defeat because of his “unlikability”, if you ask the Seacombe Heights community.

The final result of votes cast at Seaview High School in South Australia’s marginal seat of Boothby has mirrored the eventual federal government for the last six elections, making it a bellwether booth.

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The area, according to the 2016 Australian Census, is a prototypical SA neighbourhood.

It’s home to a largely white population, the mean age is 40, though increasing development and affordable rentals in the area have attracted a multicultural demographic and new homeowners.

Disability support worker Leanne Hay has traditionally voted for the Liberal party because that was the way her family voted and she felt they “ran the country better”.

In May she will be voting for Labor and swinging away from the Libs for the first time.

“I don’t really like Scott Morrison,” the 46-year-old said.

“The Liberals have been in for a while and nobody is happy.”

Seacombe Heights voter Leanne Hay. Picture: Brinley Duggan

Though Ms Hay admitted she did not know Anthony Albanese was the Labor leader, she felt Scott Morrison was on borrowed time.

Disaffection for the Prime Minister was a theme of the area with two women, both in their 70s and who chose not to be named, saying they would not be voting for the Liberals as a result.

The observation was at odds with a recent poll of the seat, which is the most marginal federal seat in the state, that was questioned by political insiders.

Results from the booth at the last election saw Liberal member Nicolle Flint marginally out-poll Labor challenger Nadia Clancy by just 31 votes.

In the same electorate, but at a booth 8km away at Glenelg South, Ms Flint out-polled Ms Clancy 840 to 481.

Several swing voters in the area were still undecided about who they would vote for, playing into how marginal the seat and booth continued to be.

Oncology research co-ordinator Kim Ruxton, 35, had all but settled on swinging towards Labor.

Seacombe Heights voter Kim Ruxton. Picture: Brinley Duggan

“I look at what’s best for myself, my partner and my parents,” Dr Ruxton, who had moved into the area since the last federal election, said.

“My husband works in emergency services and at the moment I’m swinging towards Labor because Covid and health have been a massive thing for us.”

Liberal-leaning mother and construction finance manager Sarah Evans, who was also new to the area, was undecided despite typically voting Liberal.

“I’m not sure, I don’t look much into it, but last time I voted Liberal because of my work and choosing what was good for the economy,” she said.

Seacombe Heights voter Sarah Evans. Picture: Brinley Duggan

Seacombe Heights voter Ryan Redford. Picture: Jason Katsaras

Ryan Redford, 23, a fitter and turner, would not say who he was going to vote for, but his mind was made up and he would not be changing it.

Retired dentist Margaret Roberts, 79, and IT worker Atif Shahzad, 45, had always voted Labor and would continue to do so.

Seacombe Heights voter Margaret Roberts. Picture: Jason Katsaras

“I’ve always been mostly a Labor voter, and I don’t really like Scott Morrison,” Mrs Roberts said.

But with the Liberal party having won out at the booth in the last three elections, a theme of long-time Liberal voters existed.

Judy Kosmina, 68, Bruce Kitson, 89, and a 52-year-old woman who chose not to be named said they would not be swayed from their Liberal vote.

The state’s most marginal seat looks likely to remain that way with a majority of Seacombe Heights residents still undecided about which way they will cast their vote.