Aston by-election: Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton visit polling booths
There were democracy sausages, selfies and lots of last minute wooing of voters as Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton hit the ground during Saturday’s by-election.
Outer East
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have hit the hustings in Melbourne’s outer east, as voters headed to the polls in Saturday’s Aston by-election.
Mr Albanese and Labor candidate Mary Doyle visited Bayswater Primary School, where the pair tucked into “democracy sausages” and the PM posed for selfies and met a young budding karate star.
Mr Dutton and Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell visited Lysterfield Primary School, where the Opposition Leader chatted with volunteers.
The seat of Aston was vacated by Liberal MP Alan Tudge in February, months after he was elected.
The Liberals hold a 2.8 per cent margin on the seat heading into the by-election, after Ms Doyle pulled off a 7.3 per cent swing Labor’s way at last year’s federal election.
Last month Mr Albanese joined Labor supporters in taking a swipe at Ms Campbell for living outside the electorate – even though Ms Doyle also isn’t a resident.
Pressures brought about by an increase of cost of living was the hot topic as residents voted for the second time in less than a year, with one resident telling Leader promises from both major parties to ease this was “not enough when you’re a single person in a household”.
Ms Doyle was out bright and early on Saturday morning getting a final word in to voters at Wantirna South Primary School and Bayswater Primary School.
She said Aston residents will benefit from Labor’s initiatives to ease current financial difficulties.
“Cost of living is one of those issues … but people can already see that Labor are doing things to address those issues like cheaper medicines that came into effect this year, which is relieving a lot of those pressures,” she said.
“Young families here in Aston are going to benefit from the cheaper childcare plan which will come into effect from July this year”.
Ms Doyle was joined by Mr Albanese at Bayswater Primary School, who described Ms Doyle as a “champion” capable of defying history in the seat.
“Mary is someone who knows what it’s like to do it tough,” he said.
“She’s fully aware of the pressures on families in this community from cost of living. That’s why she wants to be a strong advocate that I’m proud to lead.
“Mary’s lived in the outer eastern suburbs for some 35 years. She’s a cancer survivor, she’s a single mum raising her family in this fantastic local community.
“Mary Doyle isn’t someone who was shopped around for a seat. She wants to represent this community and will be a strong voice. It’s about time the opposition recognised they need to do more than just say no to everything”.
Mr Albanese said Ms Doyle had done an “extraordinary job” to pull off a big swing for Labor in the seat at the last election.
“Historically if you look at this seat, (Liberal’s) vote had a six in front of it,” he said.
“They got 54.7 per cent of the primary vote and a vote that was higher than 60 per cent. “What’s astonishing is the effort Mary Doyle put in the last time to shave a big part of that margin away and we’re taking this campaign seriously.
“But history tells us that the Coalition should be in a very strong position”.
Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell, a barrister and Melbourne City councillor, said she was feeling positive.
“There is a really strong sentiment on the ground that cost of living is biting here in Aston and people are keen to send the Labor Government a message that it’s not good enough – families are struggling here,” she said.
“They were promised lower interest rates, lower grocery prices, lower energy bills, and everything has gone up.”
The mum of three said two key issues had been raised by voters.
“Number one is cost of living … the other issue that comes up is Labor’s decision in its first budget to cut five critical infrastructure projects in this seat.
“Traffic congestion is a huge problem for voters in Aston and Labor has decided to scrap three key road projects so I’m going to be fighting for those infrastructure projects to get them back on the table.”
In October, Labor cut more than $600m in federal funding promised by the former Coalition government for transport projects which would have benefited Aston residents.
They included the $110m Wellington Rd duplication, a $50m upgrade of Napoleon Rd in Rowville, and the $475m first stage of the eventual Rowville rail link between Monash University’s Caulfield and Clayton campuses.
When asked if her plan was to move into the electorate if she was elected, Ms Campbell said: “We’ve already picked up keys to a property so I think that Aston deserves a strong local voice and I’m really proud to have the privilege to be considered by the voters because I think the stakes are very high right now and I offer up my energy and experience to be that person.”
Mr Dutton said it was great to be back in Aston, his sixth visit to support Ms Campbell.
“She is an outstanding candidate and I believe she will make a very effective and strong local member,” he said.
“This is a by-election, not a general election, so it’s not about changing the government it’s about electing somebody who is going to be a champion for you in your local community.”
Mr Dutton said the election offered residents the chance to send a strong message to Labor that they shouldn’t be cutting local roads funding and abandoning the community.
When asked if the by-election was a test of his leadership, Mr Dutton said: “Obviously there were various factors at the general election and that is a matter of history, I think today though is not a general election, it’s about electing a strong local representative.
“The reception that we’ve received around Aston over the last six times in my case, many more for Roshena, people have been very receptive.”
Labor supporter Aidan Smith, who held up a Mary Doyle sign behind Mr Dutton’s media conference, said the seat had “constantly missed out” while the Coalition had been in power.
“I feel we’ve been under the Coalition for so long, we’ve seen no substantial change, so as somebody who came from a public school down the road, I played footy for Lysterfield Wolves, I’ve been local all my life, I’ve seen nothing change,” he said.
“Traffic gets worse, people want to move out because they’re trying to find better opportunities.”
He said the Coalition could have already started work on the crucial road upgrades while they were in power.
Mr Smith said it would be an uphill battle for Labor to win the seat but there was mood for change
“It’s a shame that we’ve had to come to this, that Tudge didn’t resign before the federal election because millions of taxpayers money has been absolutely wasted and it’s immensely frustrating because that money could have gone towards building the Napoleon Rd upgrade.”
But Rowville voters Andrew and Natalie Farmer said they voted for Roshena Campbell.
“We know she wants to move into the area of Aston and she has taken on board some of the infrastructure needs of the roads that have been ruled out recently,” Mr Farmer said.
“We were frustrated all (those road upgrade plans) were all on board and now that money has been taken away.
“The fact that (Roshena) has been getting in touch with people directly and asking how they feel, I think that makes a big difference,” Ms Farmer said.
“Making that effort has been significant in how we have decided to vote.”
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