Lyons is Tasmania’s largest geographical electorate, covering many regional areas
Voters in Lyons say they are struggling to keep up with the policy dump from the major parties. What locals said in Sorell.
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The plethora of policies coming from the major parties is failing to impress some voters in Lyons.
Sorell is one of Lyons’ major population centres, with 16,734 at the 2021 census.
Rachel Muir, of Brighton, has been in business in Sorell for around six years.
She employs 15 staff at her cafe Velvet in Gordon St.
Mrs Muir said while the cafe enjoyed steady patronage, business conditions were challenging.
“Unemployment is at its lowest level but everyone is struggling to find staff, it doesn’t matter what industry you are in,” she said.
“That’s a big issue for us.
“Since Covid this has probably been the worst it’s been, the other thing is interest rates, ever since the August/September rate hike, we’ve seen a real drop in spending.
“That affects the staffing level. If it continues on the same track, you can see how we will cut staff hours back and they might have to search for work.”
Mrs Muir said major bypass roads had bought benefits to both Brighton and Sorell in recent years.
“You can actually cross the road, it’s better for locals,” she said.
On wider election issues, Mrs Muir said there was a strong view among the cafe’s many tradie customers the Macquarie Point stadium should go ahead.
“A lot of builders who come in say Tasmania will struggle to keep a lot of the building companies going,” she said.
A regular at the cafe, who did not wish to be named, said he was in favour of a stadium.
“One thing they need to do is build the stadium. If they don’t build it. Tasmania will go backwards,” he said.
Another customer was not impressed with the major parties’ campaigns.
“It’s too confusing. We’re going to do this, we’re going to do that. Where are they getting all the money from?” she said.
Dunalley retiree Bob Brakey was also dubious about party promises.
“I think the Liberals are pretty big spenders, I don’t know where they are going to get all their money from,” he said.
Mr Brakey said council amalgamations were also on his agenda, and was disappointed by the lack of money spend on amenities in Dunalley.
He said apart from funds that flowed after the 2013 bushfires, the town usually missed out.
Dunalley needed more paths for pedestrians given the huge volume of tourist traffic through the town.
“If Sorell Council was a horse Dunalley would definitely be the back of it,” Mr Brakey said.
Jayne England of Dodges Ferry was angered to receive text message and emails from the Labor Party.
The messages led to a lively exchange with Labor candidate Carole McQueeny, whose name was on texts promising money for a new Dodges Ferry swimming pool.
Ms England suggested Labor focus on hospitals, mental health, aged care, homelessness and medical centres, rather than a privately-owned swimming pool both parties had promised to fund.
“They just promise so much garbage, so many promises they don’t follow through,” she said.
“I think they have all just got their priorities wrong.”
Vintage clothing store owner Dionne Berry, of Midway Point, said her priority was the health system.
“I know how much pressure the public system is under, it’s really concerning,” she said.
“I do support us having a football team but I would prefer the money to go to paramedics and ambulances.
“I love my sport but we have people come in every day from all walks of life and a lot of people are doing it really tough.”
LYONS
Lyons is Tasmania’s largest electorate by geographical area, covering 35,721 sqkm.
It includes the Central Highlands, East Coast, Tasman Peninsula, Derwent Valley, Southern and Northern Midlands.
Major towns include Sorell, Brighton, New Norfolk, Richmond, Campbell Town, Deloraine, Longford and St Helens.
How Lyons voted in 2021:
53.49 per cent voted Liberal
33.33 per cent voted Labor
10.9 per cent voted Green
Current MPs in order of election in 2021:
Rebecca White (ALP)
Guy Barnett (LIB)
Mark Shelton (LIB)
Jen Butler (ALP)
John Tucker (IND, former LIB)
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