Alice Springs residents could determine the outcome of the federal election

At each of the past five federal elections, one NT polling booth has switched between favouring our two major parties, making it one of the powerful tools in determining the next prime minister.

FOR the past five federal elections, Alice Springs voters have flip-flopped between favouring the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party and the Labor Party.

It makes the Alice Springs polling booth in the CBD one of the most volatile in the nation and the town of 30,000 people may switch favour yet again.

In 2019, more Alice Springs residents preferenced the CLP at the polls but a change in sentiment could potentially decide the next prime minister of Australia.

As with the last election, climate change and the environment will be top of mind for many Alice Springs voters when they head to the pollings booths on or before May 21.

The Gap resident Rob Olzoner, a self-confessed swing voter, said he wanted to see Labor return to power because he believed the party would do a better job of looking after those in need.

Araluen resident Rob Olzoner is a self-confessed swing voter. Picture: Lee Robinson.

Invoking the recent flooding in Queensland and NSW, Mr Olzoner said: “I want to ensure that when people fall on hard times, we’ve got a government that will look after them.”

But Gillen resident Maureen O’Keefe said she had lost faith in all politicians because of their record on environmental management, particularly the NT Labor government’s handling of the controversial Singleton Station water licence.

Gillen resident Maureen O'Keefe is concerned about water and environmental management.

Eastside resident Nicolas Lee is nervous about the Alice Springs economy remaining strong. Picture: Lee Robinson

“I don’t want to vote for anybody because they (the politicians) are the ones destroying the environment,” she said.

“The biggest issue for me right now is about water and fracking in the Northern Territory.

“The kids that live in my community where I grew up – Ali Curung – they’re the ones who are going to suffer. This is about survival, there’ll be no water left for them kids.”

The environment and the economy were the main concerns for Eastside resident Nicolas Lee, who said he would be voting Labor or Greens across the board.

“Being responsible with mining and resources into the future is very important to me,” he said.

Mr Lee said he and his friends were “nervous” about the Alice Springs economy remaining strong and sustainable into the future, citing the closure of shops around the CBD.

Originally published as Alice Springs residents could determine the outcome of the federal election