Federal election 2022: Voters in Bellwether seat of Wentworth talk issues concerning them most
As politicians bicker and pointscore amongst themselves, Aussie voters are focused on the real issues ahead of the federal election and this is what they really care about.
NSW
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From health to lifestyle to climate change, eastern suburbs constituents in the bellwether electoral seat of Wentworth are a passionate bunch when it comes to what they expect from their politicians.
With Liberal incumbent Dave Sharma under pressure to retain his seat from well-funded independent Allegra Spender from the left and ‘Wentworth’s real liberal’ Liberal Democrat candidate Daniel Lewkovitz from the right, the electorate will be one of the most keenly fought in the country.
And this is what the voters care about and what they want their candidates to know.
WHAT WENTWORTH FEDERAL ELECTION 2022 VOTERS WANT
Riccardo File – Type 1 diabetic
When Bondi’s Riccardo File came home from an incredible but exhausting holiday to Italy, he assumed he was drinking so much water as his body recovered from the trip.
It was only when the IT engineer tried to put on his suit for work and it didn’t fit – and not in the way you’d expect after a tour of Italy – that he realised something was very wrong.
He’d lost eight kilograms from his already lean 74kg frame and a trip to his GP soon confirmed he needed to go to the hospital for testing.
It was revealed at age 34 he was a type 1 diabetic.
Mr File was linked up with a diabetes educator who introduced him to continuous glucose monitoring technology called the FreeStyle Libre 2.
He inserts a small device in the fatty tissue on the back of his arm and waves his smartphone over the top to get his blood sugar reading.
“It was a shock realising I had a condition for life,” Mr File said.
“Thank God we have this technology but it is very costly. Mine costs $90 a fortnight just for the part I stick in my arm.
“At a bare minimum it costs $200 per month depending on who your provider is.”
While Mr File is fortunate enough to be able to budget for the device, many of the other diabetics he knows are not.
To be eligible for the National Diabetes Services Scheme subsidy of a CGM device you have to be aged under 21, hold a concession card or be pregnant.
Mr File believes the subsidy should be available to everyone to help them better manage their diabetes and therefore avoid complications which not only drastically impact the quality of life of the patient but are a burden on the health system.
“I know a person about my same age who didn’t use it at all because of the cost. Although he has just now started to and finds it fantastic, the cost is very hard on him,” Mr File said.
“I know of another person who only wears it when he goes on vacation because it’s simply too much money.
“If you’ve got a large family, even if you have a good job, it probably isn’t on your lists of priorities to spend $2500 on.”
Mr File is calling on the Wentworth candidates to support expanding the CGM subsidy to all diabetics.
Dr ASTRID-JANE WILLIAMS – Doctors for the Environment Australia
Bondi Junction doctors Astrid-Jane and Nick Williams fear how climate change could impact their children’s futures and so they decided to put the little ones to work on their first piece of political activism.
Dr Astrid-Jane, a gastroenterologist, and Dr Nick, a neonatologist, are parents to little Arthur, two, and Lachlan, four, and they are expecting a third baby soon.
The medical professionals joined Doctors for the Environment Australia three years ago and now they’re asking other parents in the east to join them in send drawings by their children depicting environmental concerns to the candidates.
“We’re already seeing that impact in terms of the consequences of climate change such as natural disasters, heatwaves, flooding and storms and the impact that’s having physically and mentally on health sector,” Dr Astrid-Jane Williams said.
“Climate change will no doubt become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia.
“We talk commonly about the environment in our household given it’s a passion of ours and also of significant importance to instil that vale in the upbringing of our children.
“Given we live in the eastern suburbs, there’s a lot of discussion about the health of the ocean and what happens if we don’t do the right thing – simple things to understand for kids like recycling and correctly.”
The Williams boys were inspired by the bushfires and floods experienced by their grandfather who lives on the land in creating their masterpieces.
Visit dea.org.au to join the movement.
SHANNON DAVIS – glaucoma patient
It was purely out of curiosity that PwC partner Shannon Davis decided to get an eye test after wondering why the rest of his family wore glasses while at 45 he continued to enjoy perfect vision.
To his shock, the Bondi resident in fact had advanced glaucoma and was legally blind, forcing him to take a medical retirement from his thriving career.
Unfortunately, like Mr Davis, many people with glaucoma don’t know until considerable damage has already been done to their optic nerves.
“I was shocked, confused when I was told I had a severe chronic disease (that I knew nothing about) and that it was already very advanced in its progression,” Mr Davis said.
“This meant I had already irreversibly lost a large amount of my vision in both eyes and had very little vision left to play with for the remainder of my life. With no prospect of medical improvement to my vision I was advised I was legally blind and I could no longer drive.
“I know you’re thinking, how does this happen? So did I! What was happening is the mind does a phenomenal job of compensating for the actual visual deficit and damage to the optic nerve by filling in the blanks with what it thinks should be in your peripheral visual field. I had no idea that this was happening.”
Mr Davis and Glaucoma Australia are lobbying the federal government to change the rules around eye testing in Australia.
In Australia you can have an eye health check fully covered by Medicare every three years under the age of 65 and yearly over 65 or additionally, at any time it is clinically indicated.
The issue is that government does not support Eye Health Awareness Campaigns that drive testing.
Glaucoma Australia supports people getting tested by an optometrist every two years from age 50 or from age 40 if they have a family history.
Mr Davis said once you have been to an optometrist they all send patient recalls as clinically required.
However, if like him you have never before been to an optometrist you don‘t get picked up by the system.
“We need government funding to support our eye health awareness campaigns as early diagnosis saves sight,” Mr Davis said.
BIKEast and Bicycle NSW
With cycleways an important strategy to reduce traffic congestion in the east, cut down on carbon emissions and improve safety for bike riders, it’s no wonder the cycling community have an election pitch to make to the candidates of Wentworth.
BIKEast president Mark Worthington there were two main issues his group wanted to bring to the attention of the Wentworth candidates.
“Support for returning the Inner Sydney Regional Bike Network Infrastructure Australia‘s Infrastructure Priority List (this was recently removed from IA’s list),” Mr Worthington said.
“Support for infrastructure and incentives for people to use bicycles (including electric bikes) as an alternative to vehicles that consume fossil fuels.”
Mr Worthington said the following proposed cycleways were on the wishlist and they would welcome any funding announcements: Bondi Junction – Bondi Beach; Queens Park – Bronte Beach; Coogee – Randwick (UNSW); Maroubra Beach – Eastgardens; Maroubra Junction – Randwick Junction – Bondi Junction; CBD (Hyde Park) – Double Bay; Alexandria – Kingsford; Alexandria – Kensington (UNSW); Kingsford – Alexandria; Sydney Airport access route (Airport Dr – Qantas Dr – Joyce Dr – General Holmes Dr); Eastern Sydney Bays and Beaches bike route (Circular Quay – Rose Bay – Watsons Bay – Bondi Beach – La Perouse – Botany).
Meanwhile, We Ride Australia in conjunction with the Australasian Society for Physical Activity and Bicycle NSW presented Member for Wentworth Dave Sharma in his capacity as co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling with three transport priorities.
The first is to lower default urban speed limits in residential areas, shopping streets and school zones.
Second is to implement a 1500m Safe Routes to School strategy including footpaths, pedestrian priority crossings, and ‘no drop off’ zones.
Finally, they’d like to see a purchase subsidy of up to $1000 for customers purchasing an e-bike for riding to work.
Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean said the transport priorities resonated in the east and beyond.
“Analysis and feedback continues to tell us that these three priorities improve the safety of bicycle riders and increase the adoption of bicycle transport by all ages,” Mr McLean said.
“Lower default speed limits, safe routes to schools and e-bike purchase subsidies are all critical areas which the federal government has direct control or influence over and they pull the purse strings on funding which delivers such projects by other levels of government.
“Lowering default speed limits around retail areas, schools and residential areas keeps active transport users far safer and will help more bicycle users ride more often through a safer and better riding experience.
“Safer routes to schools will get more students active by riding short distances to school which parents can be confident with. Reduced congestion around schools will also be achieved making it a major win for all road users.
“Around the country we have subsidies for all kinds of sustainability products from solar panels to insulation but not a bike or e-bike. The federal government could directly implement such a program to get more people adopting a bike over a car which will have strong environmental, health and economic benefits.”
Mr McLean said studies show around 75 per cent of people will consider using a bicycle if it is safe and efficient but safety and infrastructure continue to be the major limitations.
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Originally published as Federal election 2022: Voters in Bellwether seat of Wentworth talk issues concerning them most
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