Franklin takes in Hobart’s Eastern Shore, Kingborough and the Huon Valley

What’s on the minds of Franklin voters in the lead up to the state election? Find out how locals are feeling ahead of the vote.

Blair Richards

3 min read

March 20, 2024 - 5:00AM

Tasmania

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In his role as manager of Kingston’s Neighbourhood House, David Morse sees every day the many challenges facing people in Franklin.

The centre has two full time staff and responds to 27,000 requests for help a year.

They also run a childcare centre.

“I am about the weirdest looking childcare centre manager people have ever seen,” he said.

Emergency food relief is one of the biggest roles of the centre, with all types of households struggling to afford expenses such as heating.

Kingston Neighbourhood House Manager David Morse with gardener Karen Dowling. Picture: Linda Higginson

“It’s been going on for a while, we have older couples turning off the power at 3pm and hopping under a blanket,” he said.

“We get lots of sole parents needing food for the weekend.”

Mr Morse also sees the best and worst of the community.

“We’ve got one of the most generous communities here, the amount of donations not only in time but also goods is absolutely stunning,” he said.

Mr Morse said an escalation in violence and crime in the area was concerning.

“We’ve got people who come out of prison and sent their 10 or 11 year old kids running around the streets dropping off drugs for them,” he said.

In the lead up to the election Mr Morse’s diary has been packed with appointments with MPs and candidates.

While there’s no shortage of pledges from politicians, the three to four year election cycle often resulted in short-term fixes.

“Politicians are supportive but the problems are bigger than that. The issues are systemic,” he said.

“We are looking for $2.1m to funding for a capital improvement program here so we can provide (more) programs to support people in the community.”

Karen Dowling of Kingston, who tends to the garden at neighbourhood house, said her key concerns were food prices, housing, education and loneliness in the community.

“It would be good to have more activities out there for elderly people, there are a lot of people on their own,” she said.

Jan Simonetto of Howrah, for an electorate profile of Franklin

Howrah resident Jan Simonetto said she would cast her votes wide in protest against the major parties.

“I’ve become extremely cynical, I’m departing from all party lines, and doing the biggest mix up of people that I can,” she said.

“I can’t be bothered listening to the promises because we know what happens, I hope a big mix gets in there and will shake them to their foundations.”

Kingston Beach resident Justin Turner said traffic was a huge problem for people in his suburb, many of whom needed to travel to Hobart for work.

“I leave home at 7am so I can get a park and not be in traffic, I’ve noticed in the last two months the traffic seems to be getting earlier. The congestion is in the city, I don’t think it’s the Southern outlet,” he said.

Mr Turner said the Derwent ferries were a good initiative, more public transport was needed.

Gary of Blackmans Bay, is concerned about traffic and money being wasted on bureaucratic systems.

Gary of Blackmans Bay was concerned about the cost of housing, traffic, the state being over governed and money being wasted on a bloated bureaucratic systems rather than front line services.

“The single biggest problem is how people get around the city,” he said.

“We have a huge discussion about a stadium we don’t need, it’s another bright shiny thing to further kick the can down the road.”

Gary, who has adult children, said he worried for the next generation when it came to affording a mortgage.

“We’re fine but youngsters are struggling,” he said.