North Sydney, Willoughby facing Libs vs Teal battle on election day
One of Sydney’s most affluent seats has never been held by Labor, but teal independents are proving a tempting choice for the once safe Liberal area of North Sydney.
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North Sydney mum Loren Seager faces an uncertain year-long wait for childcare, but events overseas and concerns for national security are what will swing her vote.
“Given everything going on in the world right now, national security is very, very important,” she said.
“I find that very scary, just not knowing what the future holds and there’s less certainty around war and safety and human rights.”
Ms Seager is part of a growing number of voters in affluent inner city seats looking to cast their vote over big national and international issues such as the growing China threat, uncertainty in the Solomon Islands and the war in Ukraine.
Owner of Willoughby cafe Little Giant Roasters Vivian Chen said she was also leaning towards voting for the Liberals on national security, as well as local economic issues.
“We are a small business so we mostly care about the economy,” Ms Chen said.
“National security things, so everyone lives in peace and more affordable living that can keep our local business going.”
The Liberal’s had a good reputation among North Sydney voters when it came to national security and the economy, but a growing cohort of moderate and left wing voters and being tempted away from popular MP Trent Zimmerman toward the local teal independent Kylea Tink.
Mr Zimmerman has held North Sydney since 2015 on a relatively safe 9.3 per cent margin, but the independent threat splitting the Liberal vote could see either Ms Tink or Labor snatch the seat.
On top of the divisive trans-sport debate, another issue driving traditionally moderate Liberal voters away from the moderate Mr Zimmerman is climate change, with Labor, the Greens and teal candidates chasing more ambitious emissions targets than the Coalition.
While she hasn’t decided yet how her vote will swing, Willoughby parenting expert Genevieve Muir of Connected Parenting said climate was one of the most important issues for her community.
“I’ll be looking at that because that’s our children’s future and that’s something all the parents I work with are worried about,” Ms Muir said. “We are accountable to the next generation and there’s a real pressure feeling like we have to do something now.”
Access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and cutting red tape around support for children is another big issue for Ms Muir, who works with many parents struggling to get support through the program.
“We know that early intervention when there’s issues is one of the biggest things … I’m working with a lot of parents who need NDIS – they are eligible but they are waiting eight months for access.”
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