Federal election: Leichhardt booth volatile voters torn between Entsch, Faith and independents
Simone Underwood loves Warren Entsch, will never again vote Labor but will likely throw her vote Katter’s way in this election – a volatile voter if ever there was one.
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WHITE Rock General Store assistant Simone Underwood loves Warren Entsch, will never again vote Labor but will likely throw her vote Katter’s way in this election – a volatile voter if ever there was one.
She was turned off Labor at all levels after a former state government decision not to build a second Cairns hospital in nearby Edmonton.
It is worth noting the short-lived Newman LNP government had already scrapped the plan, but it was Annastacia Palaszczuk who oversaw the proposed standalone hospital being watered down to a simple health facility.
That memory has left an indelible mark.
There is nothing the ALP could do to change Ms Underwood’s mind – but the Coalition could win back her vote if it targets the suburb where she lives and works.
“White Rock is neglected and has always been neglected,” she said.
“It depends whether the federal government can allocate more money specifically to White Rock – things for kids to do.
“We’ve been waiting for a community centre to be built since about 2011.”
However, deeper issues have soured her mind.
Ms Underwood’s cattle property owner parents have worked their life but do not qualify for a full pension due to their assets.
“The government says they own too much and have to sell everything so they have nothing,”she said.
“That’s not how Australia works.”
Ms Underwood said her father is only eligible for about $73 a fortnight.
“My dad is 80 next month, he has dementia and lives out in the bush,” she said.
“You want him to live in a little unit somewhere with nothing?
“He can’t do that. He’s a farmer, he’s not going to live in a little unit.
“Meanwhile we give all of our money to dole bludgers who do nothing and think they’re owed something.”
The long-term local has a son, 21, and an 18-year-old daughter whose futures are front of mind when deciding where to direct her vote.
“The way the world is going, our kids are going to have nothing,” she said.
“My son is paying off his car and trying to save for a house but they just make it so hard.
“Everything is going up but the wages aren’t.
“They’ve made it so single mothers can get a house (with a deposit as low as 2 per cent).
“I’m not knocking them, but what about the young kids who don’t have a partner and want to get ahead in life?”
The decision is going to come right down to the crunch.
“Warren is great, he sent my son and daughter certificates when they graduated,” she said.
“I even got a marriage congratulations from Warren Entsch.
“That shows he cares, he actually sent us something.
“I haven’t seen anything from the (state) Labor side.”
That affinity for a local MP and disillusionment for the party he represents adds up to a conflicted frame of mind that could go either way on election day.
“I really think I’m swinging towards the Katters or an independent,” she said.
“I just think we’d run better with more independents.”
Ms Underwood is in good company with comprehensive new data revealing White Rock as one of the six most volatile federal election booths in Leichhardt.
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Originally published as Federal election: Leichhardt booth volatile voters torn between Entsch, Faith and independents
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