Geelong Advertiser election survey: Hundreds outline key to winning election, what they want from next government

Hundreds of Geelong Advertiser readers have had their say on the key issues they believe will shape this election and the next government. See the results of the Addy’s election survey.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy will face off on November 26. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

More than 400 Geelong Advertiser readers have had their say on the key issues they believe will shape this election, including putting cost of living and health system improvements at the top of the local agenda.

The Addy’s 2022 state election survey examined a series of broad issues relating to how readers rated the performance of the previous state government, and what they most want to see achieved by whomever wins the November 26 election.

Addy readers have thrown their support behind the Liberal Party, including South Barwon candidate Andrew Katos (left) leader Matt Guy (centre) and Bellarine candidate Donnie Grigau (right). Picture: Mike Dugdale

While the survey only gives a brief snapshot of readers’ opinions, it does provide key insights into the beliefs of the audience of the city’s largest media outlet.

Despite Labor holding the majority of local upper and lower house seats in the region, most survey responses pointed towards voting for the Liberal Party later this month, with 51 per cent signalling they would vote for their local Liberal candidate in the lower house, and 47 per cent saying they would vote Liberal in the Western Victoria upper house seat.

In the lower house Labor received the next most votes (26 per cent), followed by those who preferred not to say (9 per cent) and the Greens (5.5 per cent).

In the upper house Labor was also the next most popular party (24 per cent), followed by those who preferred not to answer (8.3 per cent), the Greens (5.5 per cent), Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party (3.9 per cent) and the Animal Justice Party (2.5 per cent).

The Greens are the most popular of the minor parties with Addy readers, giving Western Victoria candidate Sarah Mansfield a fighting chance. Picture: Mark Wilson

The wide support for the Liberal party in the survey also resulted in 62.4 per cent of respondents claiming their local MP had not done enough for their electorate over the past four years – compared to just 21 per cent who thought they had.

When asked to outline the issues they believe mattered most in the region this election, a majority of readers pointed to the easing of cost of living pressures, and improving – or “fixing” – the healthcare system.

“Health and cost of living needs to be a top priority items for whoever party comes to government,” on reader noted in the survey.

Other key insights from the survey include:

ABOUT one in four readers had been a victim of crime over the past four years, but only one-in-10 felt unsafe in their neighbourhoods.

HALF of respondents rated their quality of life worse today than four years ago, compared to about 12 per cent who said they felt better off.

THE government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic received the steepest criticism, with 57 per cent rating its handling of the pandemic ‘terrible’ (50 per cent) or ‘bad’ (7 per cent).

THE government’s handling of Geelong’s growth also came under fire, with 53 per cent of responses labelling it ‘terrible’ or ‘bad’ compared to just 14 per cent who rated it ‘good’ or ‘great’.

A majority of responses also said the government needed to do more to provide local solutions to homelessness, and take a greater role in supporting the revitalisation of Geelong’s CBD.

Many readers also provided extra comments relating to what Geelong needed from the next state government, including for it to support issues which typically fall within the responsibility to local council.

“Geelong has been neglected for too long as Geelong has been taken for granted by Labor as a safe seat,” one reader said.

“Geelong’s roads and transport infrastructure is woefully under developed considering the rate of development and population growth we have been experiencing over the past decade,” another wrote.

“Infrastructure needs to be built before suburbs are built, Public transport needs to be put in place as suburbs are constructed. Hospitals, Schools and Facilities are needed now, not in 10 years time when a new suburb is complete,” another said.

Originally published as Geelong Advertiser election survey: Hundreds outline key to winning election, what they want from next government