What Flowerdale, Donnybrook voters are thinking ahead of 2022 federal election
Voters at significant polling sites say federal election candidates still have time to win them over in the lead up to the 2022 race.
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There are still votes to be won at bellwether booths in Flowerdale and Donnybrook in the lead up to the 2022 federal election, with word on the street suggesting candidates are in for a tight race.
Climate change, housing supply, and economic management are among the hot topics for voters heading to the polls at Flowerdale Primary School and Woodstock Community Hall (near Donnybrook) in May — and apart from some staunch ScoMo supporters, it appears most remain open to convincing.
The Flowerdale and Woodstock booths have each predicted the results of the past six elections, with support for the Liberal National Coalition swinging to Labor in 2007, then back to the Coalition in 2013.
Without revealing a clear leader in this year’s contest, locals out and about recently were happy to share their views on everything from funding priorities, party leaders’ personalities and other factors influencing their voting decisions.
For Flowerdale retiree Don Love, one thing was certain: the current government had to go.
“The existing government’s not interested in doing anything major about climate change and it is affecting us now,’’ she said.
“I’m also not happy with the approach of the prime minister, so I wouldn't be voting for the existing government.”
Mr Love, who “tends to stay either Labor or independent”, was leaning towards supporting an independent candidate this time around, believing the past two federal members for Indi — independents Cathy McGowan and Helen Haines — had done a decent job representing the electorate.
“They don’t get caught up in deals in their own party room and that’s a problem with the two major parties,” he said.
An ambitious climate plan could win him over to Labor, he said, but he did not hold high hopes of seeing one released.
“I haven’t seen their climate change policy written out as yet to examine,’’ he said.
“It would be good to see because we’ve got a lot to catch up on.
“But I think they’ll play it safe because certain sections of the community won’t be happy and they’ve got to try and win votes.”
Young mums Nicole Hemming and Jess Daniell said Labor probably had their vote, although both admitted they hadn’t put a lot of thought into the upcoming election.
“I always just go Labor so I would probably stay with Labor,” Ms Hemming said.
“Mum and dad did and I’ve always kind of just followed.
“I don’t think I would change — I think they [the major parties] are both as bad as each other.”
Ms Daniell said her vote would be based on “past actions from either side” rather than promises.
Citing issues including taxes, education, and support for single parents and those unable to work, she believed Labor’s priorities had generally proven “more influential” for her lifestyle.
“There’s more things they want to try and fix and make better that are more beneficial for me,” Ms Daniell said.
“They’re more work-orientated, and more for the people.
“Liberal’s more money-orientated, more for higher earning sort of people.
“Labor’s had more empathy for lower income sort of people, and done things to help us out.”
Bus driver and 70-year Flowerdale resident Denis Hodge said he would support the Coalition as he believed the existing independent member Helen Haines had neglected the southern parts of her electorate.
“She may be good up north but we feel deserted down this end,” he said.
“We’re up against much bigger cities like Benalla and Wangaratta.”
Highlighting Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton as examples of impressive leadership, Mr Hodge said he “wouldn’t have [Anthony] Albanese in a fit”.
“Dutton’s making an excellent job in the defence and foreign affairs side of things — I wouldn't have any faith in any of the other ones.
“They [Labor] are idiots — you’ve only got to listen to them, the way they carry on.
“Morrison is doing the very best he can in very difficult circumstances.
“I don’t think any PM’s had to face so much trouble from overseas since World War II — and he’s still facing it.”
Artist and project manager Barbara Joyce said she wanted a local member who would put more emphasis on youth involvement and acknowledgment of First Nations people.
Ms Joyce said she was “pretty consistent” with her voting and generally favoured “people who really connect with everyday people”.
“I guess I’ve always been focused on areas of need,” she said.
“I think the independents are really good out here — I see them very active and listening.
“I think they’re pretty strong in representing the views of the people.”
Flowerdale Men’s Shed member Don Todd said he “might even vote for Clive Palmer yet” given some disappointing recent decisions by his historically favoured Liberals.
Mr Todd was “mainly a Liberal voter” but also “a bit of a swinger” so could go either way come election day.
“I don’t know whether to vote for ScoMo after the floods and all that,” he said.
“They should’ve had the army in straight away — instead it was the neighbours getting people off roofs.”
He remembers voting Labor in 2007, when Kevin Rudd became Prime Minister, ousting the long-serving John Howard.
His reason: “A new broom sweeps clean.”
“It was time for a change, and it’s probably time for a change again.
“We’ll see what happens, watch the news.
“If the Liberals start doing something productive, they’ll probably get my vote.
“It’s still there to be won.
“I might vote for Helen Haines because she’s a local girl.”
Planning to sell the Flowerdale Hotel and retire, publican Steve Phelan said superannuation was a big issue for him in the coming election, and he was confident the Coalition would see him taken care of.
“I just think they’ll do a better job managing the money, and that’s going to be a big issue coming out of Covid,” he said.
“History repeats itself.
“I’m old enough to have seen Labor governments before.”
Longtime Labor/Greens voter Fred Vella said he was willing to change his approach to get a better outcome for his electorate.
“I realised what I’ve done all my life has been a mistake,” he said.
“You get people who are dyed in the wool Liberal or Labor and that’s who they vote for — that electorate will get nothing.
“If people had any semblance of a brain, basically they would go ‘what do I have to do to make this a marginal seat?’ and then swap to whatever will do that.”
Another Flowerdale resident, Christine, did not have to think twice about her decision.
“I vote Liberal,” she said.
“Because they’re not union-run like Labor and I don’t like Anthony Albanese.
“I know what they say about Scotty but it’s a hard job.
“Albo’s got no idea — he hasn’t got that oomph about him.
“I guess I’m pretty one-eyed but I’m happy to be Liberal.
“We live up here for the way it is — we don’t want change.
“Even after Black Saturday I wouldn’t change my opinion on living up here.”
Some Flowerdale residents choose not to enrol to vote, such as a 42-year-old mother who was opposed to Covid-19 mandates and regarded the political landscape as “just all very sad”.
“I don’t feel like there’s anyone to vote for,” she said.
“I was brought up Labor not understanding why.
“They worked for the Aussie battler apparently.
“The more I learn, the more that’s not necessarily the case.
“It’s just scary times having to send to your kids to kinder and push them through the gate to masked teachers and hope that doesn’t affect their growth and development.
“The whole government needs a complete restructure to get some actual humans in there.”
Over in Donnybrook, in the seat of McEwen, Adele Smith felt that as a single woman with no children, no government would do “jack shit” for her.
“Nothing at all applies to single, unmarried females without kids,” she said.
Ms Smith said she’d like to see someone make it easier to get a home loan and improve infrastructure in the growing suburb, but otherwise her vote would come down to personality factors.
“I used to love Scott [Morrison] — I don’t anymore,’’ she said.
“At the start, he was a people’s person like one of us — now he’s far from it.
“He’s a liar; he’s arrogant; and he seems to run away whenever the country needs him.
“Albanese is all right but I don’t know what he stands for.
“He seems to have more of a personality and not be so uptight, and it’s good he gives a shit about his health and weight and that.”
Ms Smith said she used to follow her parents and vote Liberal as “dad was a businessman” but these days, she waited until the last minute to decide.
“When I go in, I usually put the Australian Shooting Party or something stupid,’’ she said.
“I don’t feel like it’s really going to make difference.”
First-time voter Rziki Kisheto, 18, said she was “too busy with studies” to focus on the election and would probably “just ask [her] parents who they’re voting for” but added Donnybrook railway station could do with an upgrade.
A commuter building a new home in the estate opposite the station said he hadn’t made up his mind yet but expected efforts to relieve traffic congestion around the Hume Freeway — particularly a proposed Watson St interchange — to be a funding priority for many people.
“This area’s getting so busy and that’s been on the agenda for years,” he said.
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