Labor edges ahead in high-stakes battle for Boothby ahead of federal election

The battle for South Australia’s only marginal federal seat, Liberal-held Boothby, is on a knife edge, with Labor slightly ahead in a race which could determine government.

Labor has edged ahead in the high-stakes battle for South Australia’s only marginal federal seat, the Liberal-held Boothby, according to a street poll conducted by The Advertiser.

But sentiment could shift before election day, with more than one in five voters admitting they have not yet decided who they will support.

Over three days last week, The Advertiser polled 150 voters selected at random from across the electorate – including at pubs, beaches, parks and shopping centres.

In a race that could prove crucial in deciding Australia’s next government, 60 said they intended to vote Labor at the election, expected to be called for May, and 46 said they would vote Liberal.

Undecided voter Emmah Money (centre) says she wants to hear more about policies aimed at children. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Another 10 indicated they intended to support independents or minor parties, while 34 said they were undecided or had no preference.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese did not share the same level of support as his party, with 42 selecting him as their preferred Prime Minister, compared to 37 who opted for the incumbent, Scott Morrison, and 71 who had not decided or had no preference.

Respondents were also asked which party they supported at the 2019 federal election, with 13 answering that they had voted Liberal but would switch in 2022 to either Labor or an independent.

Most attributed the change to their belief the Morrison government had mishandled the pandemic.

Boothby MP Nicolle Flint is retiring at the election. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Such a trend could prove critical in the country’s third-most marginal seat, which retiring Liberal MP Nicolle Flint held at the last election by just 1.4 per cent.

Boothby has been in Liberal hands since 1949. Lily King, of Glenelg East, said she had been a longtime Liberal voter but would now look to support a minor party, such as Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party, because of the government’s handling of the pandemic.

“I don’t agree with vaccine mandates,” she said at the Marion Hotel.

“I never believed in minority parties ever before. I thought it was a waste of a vote, but I feel really strongly now, and I think Mr Morrison will have a rude shock come election day.”

Lifelong Labor voter Chris Smith, of Oaklands Park, said the pandemic had been mismanaged and a change of government was “more urgent” compared to other elections.

Chris Smith, of Oaklands Park, will vote Labor at the upcoming federal election. He is pictured at the Marion Hotel. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Ros Marshall, of Mitcham, classed herself as a swinging voter but said she voted Labor in 2019 and would do so again.

“I like (independent candidate) Jo Dyer. I think she has a strong character and she won’t be bought, but it’s just so important we get this government out,” she said.

“I don’t trust Scott Morrison, and I’d be horrified if the Liberal/Nationals got back in.”

Ms Marshall said she was particularly concerned about climate change action and the handling of the pandemic, including the JobKeeper scheme in which some businesses received handouts while reporting high revenues.

When asked about Ms Dyer, the endorsed candidate of Voices of Boothby, one of those surveyed said they intended to vote for her, another two said they would consider it, and a further two said they had heard of her.

She and fellow candidates Dr Rachel Swift (Liberal), Louise Miller-Frost (Labor) and Jeremy Carter (Greens) will, in the coming months look to win over the significant cohort of undecided voters.

Emmah Money, a mother of two from Glenelg, said she had not given the election much thought but wanted to hear more about policies that affected children.

“We’re so preoccupied with schooling and homeschooling,” she said. “I think they’ve (Liberal Party) managed the pandemic the best they can. It’s trial and error.”