Federal Election 2022: Aston voters in Boronia have their say

In the heart of the Liberal stronghold seat of Aston is the booth of Boronia Heights Primary School, where voters have picked the result of each election since 2004.

Knox residents will head to the polls for the federal election in a couple of months, and one school’s polling station could give a big clue on who will triumph.

Boronia Heights Primary School in Boronia is considered a bellwether booth — where voters have picked the result of each election since 2004.

It’s part of the seat of Aston in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, based largely in the city of Knox and covering suburbs including Wantirna, Bayswater, Boronia, Rowville and Ferntree Gully.

The seat was established in 1984 and was held by Labor’s John Saunderson until 1990, when the late Peter Nugent won the seat for the Liberals.

It has remained a Liberal seat ever since, and incumbent Alan Tudge, who has served since 2010, has a comfortable 10.1 per cent margin, classing it as a safe Liberal seat — yet it’s this booth that tells the tale.

Mr Tudge stepped down from the government’s ministry earlier this year but is seeking a fifth term as Aston’s representative at this year’s poll, tipped for May.

Labor’s Mary Doyle is taking on Mr Tudge for the seat, while the Greens’ Asher Cookson, United Australia Party’s Rebekah Spelman, and The New Liberals’ Ryan Bruce have also nominated.

Liberal Alan Tudge has served as Aston’s MP since 2010 and is seeking another term at this year’s federal election. Picture: Gary Ramage

Leader spoke to locals outside the school and at nearby Alchester Village shopping centre, and most had a good idea of who they would vote for in this year’s poll.

Four people indicated they would vote Labor, three for the Liberals, and two were undecided.

Bucking the trends was Boronia’s Glenn, a former rusted-on Liberal voter, who said he’d vote for the United Australia Party.

“I’m never going to vote for the Liberals again, they didn’t stick up for our rights, or our children’s rights, in lockdown,” he said.

Ferntree Gully grandfather John said he would stick with the Liberals as he felt “consistency” was important at this time, in the face of global issues including recovery from Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.

John also thought Mr Tudge had delivered on local infrastructure and wanted to see Dorset Rd extended to Rowville.

Boronia voter Sandra agreed with John, saying Mr Tudge “done a lot locally with bridges, roads and the (Knox regional) netball centre”.

Voters surveyed by Leader want to see federal action on cleaning up Boronia railway station ahead of the 2022 election. Picture: Stuart Milligan

But Boronia’s Bruce, a Labor voter, said there had been “a lot of angst against Mr Trudge at my local bowling club because of his private life.”

Bruce said his biggest voting issue was the cost of living and the impact it would have on pensioners.

Two Boronia locals, Judi and Jacinta, both called for an overhaul of Boronia railway station and the town’s run-down mall.

“The smell of urine at Boronia station is disgusting, the steps are too steep, and there’s not enough shelter in winter,” Judi said.

Jacinta also felt the Liberals “didn’t look after us enough” during the pandemic, which could swing her vote.

Boronia’s Andrew, who recently became a Victorian Labor Party member, said he hoped to see Ms Doyle cause a boilover and claim Aston.

“I hope she does all right, everything I’ve read about her makes me think she’s the right person for the job,” he said.