Why these two young female voters are backing Albanese over Dutton ahead of the election

Exclusive polling shows female voters are backing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over Peter Dutton. Two young Tasmanian female voters explain why.

Joe Brey, Bethany Sarginson and Emily Miller. Picture: Bridget Clarke

A Dutton-led Coalition government is a prospect Bethany Sarginson and Joe Brey contemplate with dread.

“I’ll cry if he wins,” Ms Sarginson said.

“He‘s like a Donald Trump.”

The UTAS marine science masters students, 23 and 22 respectively, plan to put Greens as their number one preference in the hopes of re-electing a Labor Government.

Ms Sarginson cited women’s health and NDIS funding as her main concerns heading into May 3, however environmental issues remain front of mind for both students who fear a Dutton government would cut funding for their studies and affect their future career prospects.

There is a similar fear among their friends, they say, which included Canadian national Emily Miller.

Joe Brey and Bethany Sarginson. Picture: Bridget Clarke

While only arriving in Tasmania from Ontario one month ago, the 25-year-old fellow masters student said if eligible she would vote Greens.

“I agree with a lot of what they campaign for, especially in local Tassie activism,” she said.

The students are not alone in their views.

Exclusive polling shows female voters are backing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over Peter Dutton, with the demographic holding enough sway to see the re-election of a federal Labor government.

It was not an ideal situation Ms Brey said, but a necessary one.

“It’s the lesser of two evils,” she said.

NCA 2025 Federal Election Liberal Bus 04/04/2025 Sydney Australia Leader of the Australian Liberal Party Peter Dutton attends the future west summit held at Blacktown workers in Sydney on the campaign trail for the 2025 federal election. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

“Albanese has been disappointing, but the best thing to come out of this would be the Greens and independents getting more power.

“At the end of the day somebody’s going to get voted into power, but you can still give your vote to somebody you think will represent you, and that’s not a lost vote.

“It’s a step in the right direction.”

She said this was particularly true of environmental issues.

“I’m very much concerned about the environment, especially here with salmon farming and native forest logging,” she said.

“But I’m hopeful that something’s going to change.”