Federal Election 22: Bennelong voters have their say

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is suffering an identity problem in a northern Sydney seat but not all is lost — some voters are prepared to vote for him despite failing to name him.

They’re the voters living in former Prime Minister John Howard’s seat of Bennelong — but if some voters had their way, he would still be in office.

“Bring back John Howard,’’ Angela Abboud, 52, said. “He had so much surplus. They always had money and he was such a reliable Prime Minister. He was the best, best ever.

“I never go for Labor. You can’t rely on them plus they suck the economy dry.

Despite being a Liberal voter, the Putney resident is lukewarm towards Scott Morrison, initially answering with “none’’ when asked to name her preferred leader.

Denistone asset manager Sean Merhi, 46, also believes the Liberals can handle the economy better than the ALP.

Ali Tira said if the Liberals wantd to retain power, they need to address climate change. Picture: Jake McCallum

Bill said the Federal Government needed to develop a long term plan for flooding. Picture: Jake McCallum

Eastwood mum-of-two Grace Davis wants the leaders to restore conservative values such as traditional marriage and will vote for the Liberals.

Several constituents, mainly in their 20s, struggled to name the opposition leader.

Ryde landscaper Pedro Gomez, 25, struggled to recall Anthony Albanese’s name and despite having more faith that the Liberals could best manage the economy and national security, he is planning to vote for Labor.

Maddi Humphries, 23.

Ryde residents Maddi Humphries, 23, and Kelly Watson, 21, think Labor is the best party to lead the nation but they failed to name Mr Albanese.

School chaplain Cassie Wallace, 36, accountant Dubravka Hlebar, 47, and Fahimeh Omidi Malamiri, 57, could not name Mr Albanese.

Bennelong voter Steph said she would like to see climate change tackled as a major issue. Picture: Jake McCallum

Bennelong voter Charlotte Ancell said addressing climate change and cost-of-living measures would win the election. Picture: Jake McCallum

Community representative and member of the Macquarie Park-Ryde Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Hill, said the mud-slinging between Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese had made him reconsider his take for a preferred Prime Minister.

“I feel a strong sense of leadership that comes from Marise Payne,” Mr Hill said. “She has my pick as preferred Prime Minister.”

The Bennelong voter said key issues on his mind before election day would be how each party responded to security threats, the sale of Australian assets and “the tail end of the Covid pandemic”.

Mr Hill said he was under the impression that the Liberal Party was able to handle cost-of-living measures and the economy.

Jacob in Top Ryde. Picture: Jake McCallum

Meanwhile, Ryde resident Jacob said Covid was still the most significant issue for the electorate before polling day.

He said Mr Albanese and Mr Morrison would be faced with an uphill battle if they expected to win on identity politics.

“I couldn’t tell you either of their names,” he said.

“My preferred Prime Minister would still be John Howard.’’

However, Ryde mother Shana Maeder said the housing affordability crisis was a major concern for the Bennelong electorate.

Unable to differentiate the two major parties when it came to tackling the issue of cost-of-living woes, Ms Maeder said she was convinced the Labor Party handled the economy better than the Liberals.

Shana Maeder. Picture: Jake McCallum

“I’d like to see the return of a powerful woman like Julia Gillard,” she said. “Gillard had the leadership trait.”

Meanwhile, Ryde resident Soraya Raju said a lack of climate action needed to be addressed by both parties ahead of May 21.

“We are facing an uphill battle with climate change, which negatively impacts the economy,” she said.

Ms Raju said neither party addressed cost-of-living issues in Sydney.

Denistone East resident Chris Altree said the price of goods and services were skyrocketing for voters.

“When it comes to a preferred Prime Minister I would say the likes of Julie Bishop would be running the country,” he said.

“In Bennelong, we need multicultural representation, someone who can show the various communities that make up the electorate.”

Former Epping Boys’ High School captain Simon Kennedy and ex-Ryde councillor Jerome Laxale are vying to win Bennelong, which Mr Howard held from 1974 to 2007 when he was the second sitting Prime Minister to lose his own seat following Labor’s Maxine McKew victory.

MENTAL HEALTH, COST OF LIVING ON VOTERS’ MINDS

Boosting mental health is equally important as rising fuel and grocery prices for Ryde’s Dubravka and Robert Hlebar who live in the seat of Bennelong.

The couple, who are parents to Tatjana, 14, and Anastasia, 7, worry about social media’s dominance spreading more since the pandemic and believes the government can help curb social isolation.

Dubravka and Robert Hlebar with their two daughters Anastasia and Tatjana. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Through this pandemic people were working in an office and a lot more people were working from home but that’s going to cause a problem with social isolation,’’ Mrs Hlebar, said.

She wants the government to encourage the workforce to return to offices and also believes more can be done to boost the health of young people, such as offering private health incentives and gym bonuses.

“We’ve gone back 10 to 15 years, there’s going to be a lot of struggles,’’ she said.

“I think we have to put a foot forward and be positive.’’

Mrs Hlebar, an accountant and her husband, who works as a demolisher, devise weekly or fortnightly budgets and over the past two years have taken thrifty steps with their spending on essential items.

“Even before the pandemic the price of meat has been going up and up and you’re thinking ‘is everyone going to be vegetarian’?,’’ Mrs Hlebar said.

“I’ve looked at different using different portions of meat like mince meat or ribs and cheaper cuts.’’

The couple sends Tatjana to an all-girls’ public high school and Anastasia to a Catholic primary school.

The family is concerned about the cost of living and mental health services. Picture: Richard Dobson

Their mortgage is under control but they worry about housing affordability for their daughters’ generation, along with a proliferation of units and immigration without the infrastructure to support the growing population.

The couple has more faith that the Liberals can manage the economy and believe the party handled Covid challenges, such as the vaccination rollout, as best as possible.

“I believe with all the issues no party is really going to come up with a quick fix,’’ Mrs Hlebar said.

“We need to be grateful for the people who made the vaccination. When you look at people dying in the UK during the pandemic, but they’ve kept it in order here.’’

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