LEAST-WORST OPTION WILL BE ROB’S PICK

“THESE days I just pick the one that’s least offensive, because none of them will do something for me ...”

With these words, small business owner Rob Latimer (pictured) set out his election dilemma in Forde for the Bulletin.

Mr Latimer has been a smallbusiness owner for more than 20 years, running Rapid Batteries at Upper Coomera for the past four.

He said broken election promises and a merry-go-round of party leaders made it difficult to decide where to place his support.

“In previous years Bert (van Manen) has come to the shop to shake my hand and chat to me, but I haven’t seen any of (the candidates) this time,” he said.

“I like when they come. You really do need to put your face in someone’s face.”

Mr Latimer said he was familiar with incumbent MP van Manen and Labor candidate Des Hardman, but did not know the four minor party candidates also competing in Forde.

“But these smaller parties are good for politics. The major two are entrenched, they need real competition,” he said.

“We haven’t got a party that represents our middle Australia.”

Alongside the usual small business gripes like penalty rates and superannuation, Mr Latimer’s decision will be influenced by factors such as retirement taxes, an ageing population, housing costs and wages.

“The LNP has better tax policies for pensions … that one issue alone is enough to flick me over to Liberal,” he said.

“We’ve got to make sure money is going back into the economy to provide income for small business.”

Mr Latimer said, although he was concerned about local issues like roads, he did not believe his vote tomorrow would change anything.