What voters thought of the Tony Abbott v Zali Steggall Warringah debate
As the dust settles on Thursday’s high-profile Warringah debate between Tony Abbott and Zali Steggall we caught up with some of those in the audience to find out what they made of it — and if it had persuaded them to vote one way or the other.
- Tony Abbott and Zali Steggall lock horns in lively Warringah debate
- Tony Abbott and Zali Steggall react to high-profile debate
As the dust settles on Thursday’s debate we caught up with some of those in the audience to find out what they made of it.
We spoke to each of the following both before and after the debate and asked if the candidates had persuaded them to change how they will vote on May 18.
Jennifer Austen, 73, Seaforth
BEFORE (voting for Abbott): I support Tony because I want a moderate approach to climate change and environmental policy.
The Liberal party are better money managers. He is a climate realist. Zali is probably a very nice woman but I think her climate change policies are much too strong. I think she will support Labor.
AFTER (voting for Abbott): No I’ve certainly not (changed who I’m voting for). If I was undecided I’d go more for Tony Abbott. Independents are toothless unless there’s a hung parliament. Tony was very good especially in his summing up. He sticks to his guns.
Zali is a nice woman. I don’t like her policies at all. She’s got a crusading spirit but she’s got to see some sense.
Daniel Roberts, 46, Mosman
BEFORE (voting for Steggall): Zali represents change. She reflects the view of myself and the electorate. She has an evidence based approach to policy. I think Tony would have been great in the 1950s. He’s making himself increasingly irrelevant and his attitude to the key issues, including climate change, which impact all Australians is fundamentally shameful. This is the first time I’ve become politically active.
AFTER (voting for Steggall): Zali won the debate by a country mile. Tony contradicted himself and has no vision for how Australia is going to compete in the future world economy.
Scott Dillon, Manly
BEFORE (voting for Abbott): I think the Liberals do more for small and medium enterprises. I employ six people and I worry about what Labor will do to the economy. I’ve always voted Liberal.
AFTER (voting for Abbott): I think Tony carried himself a whole lot better. Everyone will go away thinking what she said is nice. She’s fighting with a blunt sword. I think it was a pointless debate between an independent and a major party. I think she’s got to consider the people in her electorate and not have a bunch of people making noise at a debate. It was very disrespectful.
Andrew Learmont, 54, Freshwater
BEFORE (voting for Steggall): This is the first time in my life I have not voted for Liberal. I think she’s a strong local candidate who would make a good representative for the local community. She is intelligent. I’ve always voted for Tony Abbott but this election I can’t bring myself to vote for him. For me not to vote for him is a very big decision for me. The world has changed and Tony Abbott hasn’t.
AFTER (voting for Steggall): “I was really impressed with how Zali did. It will be the first time I don’t vote Liberal.”
Linda Lea, 54, Seaforth
BEFORE (voting for Abbott): I’m not unhappy to vote for Tony. I don’t know how effective an independent will be and that’s what I want to find out today. I’m a first time voter. I’m from South Africa.
AFTER (undecided): I think Zali came out pretty well. I haven’t made a decision on which way to go. He comes across a little arrogant but I think he’s a genuine committed man. I enjoyed being there and it was a good opportunity to listen. I thought she was an organised lady and I found her to be quite businesslike and likeable.
Digby Hughes, 58, Manly
BEFORE (undecided): I still don’t know who I’m voting for. Neither of these get my first preference. I’d never give Tony my number one preference and he represents a part of the electorate that doesn’t exist as it used to. Zali has got one policy as far as I can see: climate change. I’d like to see another issue.
AFTER: Unable to get in contact at the time of going to press.
Stanley Buckman, 62, Manly
BEFORE (Voting for Steggall): The action on climate change has been a joke for too long. I think Tony has had a notable career but I don’t think he needs to hang around any longer. I think she presents well and she has grassroots support which has been missing for a while. She’s seeking advice from experts.
AFTER (Voting for Steggall): Zali (won the debate) of course. She offered something new. He’s a smooth operator with the wrong policies. I think both candidates had really good points and I felt Tony tripped himself up a few times.
Harry Martin, 28, Mosman
BEFORE (Voting for Steggall): I think the electorate is ready for a change. I’m looking for a candidate that is future focused and who is determined to show leadership on climate change. I really respect Tony’s service but I think his views are a little outdated and he doesn’t care about climate change. It’s time for him to move on. I’m not the only one in my age group who feels this way.
AFTER (Voting for Steggall): I’m voting Zali.
Richard Illy, 53, Cremorne Point
BEFORE (Undecided): Zali is a little bit inexperienced. I do admire her climate change policies but I don’t think she can achieve much as an independent. I admired Tony as a PM, but I’m curious to know why he now wants three more years in parliament.
AFTER (Undecided): Still undecided. I came away from the debate thinking that we were lucky to have two outstanding candidates vying for the seat. I was happy with the responses and thought the debate was even. I was particularly impressed with Zali’s performances and her thoughtful responses. Tony struck a good balance between local and national priorities and did a good job defending his legacy.
Anthony Crowley, 55, of Curl Curl
BEFORE (Voting for Steggall): I am voting for Zali for our future. The climate is in crisis and the UK parliament has declared an environmental and climate emergency.
My concerns are that Mr Abbott has been at the forefront of sabotaging anything constructive to do with dealing with climate change. He’s used the issue for his own vindictive political gain. He’s using climate change as a political issue not an issue of humanity. This should not be political. We should get on deal with this.
AFTER (Voting for Steggall): Surprise, surprise Mr Abbott is more concerned with the economy than our children’s future. The economy is irrelevant if we have no future. He did not have anything to offer other than ‘don’t vote for Zali’.
Julia Davis, 60, of Queenscliff
BEFORE (Voting for Steggall): “I care about our kids, about our children’s future and the planet. Tony Abbott is the most destructive element inside Australian politics, frighteningly so. He’s holding this country back.”
AFTER (Voting for Steggall): “I thought Zali won hands down. She was totally informed and incredibly impressive. I can’t think of a single thing Tony said that impressed me. I was open to listening to what Tony Abbott had to say but his reactive, irrational comment about creating a car industry in Australia after the Coalition disbanded the industry reinforced my decision to vote for Zali.”
James Young, 37, of Clontarf
BEFORE (Voting for Abbott): He’s done a lot for the country. He’s qualified, experienced and knows what he’s doing. Zali is not tested, arrogant and narcissistic.
AFTER (Voting for Abbott): He said he would still vote for Tony Abbott.
I felt it was a stacked audience in favour of Zali. If Tony gets in he will have a Liberal team behind him, but for an independent it would be a harder job for her. They both came across pretty good.
Matt Ward, 38, of Queenscliff
BEFORE (Voting for Abbott): I want to see a conservative government elected federally. That’s the primary reason why I am voting Liberal. But also Tony has done a lot for the community as a volunteer firefighter and at the surf club. Zali is an untested quantity and a vote for her means we could end up with a Labor government which would be problematic for the country and the economy and my own business.
AFTER (Voting for Abbott): He said he would be voting for Toby Abbott.
“In terms of presentation Zali worked the room better, but in terms of the ultimate message it was hard to rebut Tony’s close. While I will stay with my original voting choice I think that if Zali got elected I think she would do a good job.
Doug Price, 68, of Seaforth
B EFORE (Voting for Abbott): I’ve been here for 40 years. I’m a conservative voter. Tony has done a great job. He represents so many things that Manly and Warringah are all about.
Zali is a nice lady, but she is a nobody with no political credentials. She doesn’t talk about what she can do for Warringah, it’s all about climate change. I’d like to know what she would do to make the rest of the world do their bit.
AFTER (Voting for Abbott): Zali tripped up on the fact she did not have a solar roof panels or an electric car. If you are a climate warrior you should lead by example. She is a single-issue candidate. I think Tony finished well and really articulated that a vote for independents was a vote for Labor.
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