Voices of Victoria: What issues matter most to voters before casting votes

The environment, social housing and planning have emerged as key issues with voters, while some are sick of the major parties “going woke for votes”.

Voters on High Street, Northcote on Saturday. Picture: Jason Edwards

As voters head to polling booths across the state, we asked Victorians what key issues had shaped their vote.

Everything from the environment to planning issues emerged as important to voters, while some believed major parties should stop “going woke for votes” and others believed politicians should join the workforce before heading into politics.

Check out the results of this week’s Voices of Victoria poll.

Shaun Michaels, Epping

Shaun Michaels, Epping.

“The major parties pandering and going woke for votes, taking freedoms and individuality away from us.

“Our government copy the left wing democrats of America and it is why we are failing.

“It’s all about arrogance and power to them, not our wellbeing.”

Chantelle Green, Bass Coast

Chantelle Green Bass Coast Voices of Vic.

“The environment was top of my list, living in a place like this where we are surrounded by nature, I want it to be protected.

“I was also really intrigued by the obvious appeal to women in this election, parties are starting to realise we, as women, are a big part of the vote and I liked some of the things offered to us this election.”

Housing affordability and planning were hot topics for Tamara Berhagen, Frankston and Elizabeth Howe, Tyabb

Tamara Berhagen, Frankston

“Social housing is a key concern for me. There needs to be a lot more affordable housing for people. I spend a lot of time in Rosebud and McCrae and there are a lot of homeless people in that area, people who have been made homeless because of rising rents. There’s also a lot of land that we could be using to build more affordable houses.”

Elizabeth Rowe, Tyabb

“Planning is a big one. It plays into housing affordability issues as well. I’d like to see changes to the way the green wedge is managed on the peninsula to allow more opportunities for small business as well. At the moment you can only operate a business in the green wedge if you have 100 acres which is ridiculous. Transport is another concern. We need a metro train, not a regional one, that runs all the way to Cerberus. Our side of the peninsula is always ignored. There are no good playgrounds to take your children. We moved from Carrum and that had amazing playgrounds and facilities for families. We need more of that around Tyabb.

Jules Cupido, Burwood East

Jules Cupido.

There are lots of issues. The country is going down the gurgler, it’s frightening. I think politicians need to go back to school - first thing is they all need to go and work for a few years before going into politics. The way the country is going, debt is growing, money is being spent on the wrong things, on things we don’t need – but that’s politics. I think we need a King.”