‘NERVOUS AND GOT THE MAJOR PARTY BLUES’
SEATS on the Gold Coast are usually considered a sure bet for the Liberal National Party. In conversation with early voters at Moncrieff’s Southport Community Centre on Friday, however, the Bulletin found locals “tired” of both major parties.
ANDREW MOORE, SOUTHPORT
The two major parties were the “same dog, different leg action”, and he would be ranking minor parties first, he said.
“I’m sick of the campaign. But then I’m sick of it every year. We need a hung parliament. More power to the people. It’ll mean they (politicians) actually have to work with each other and work hard, rather than doing whatever they want.”
VIOLET RISER
The young Gold Coaster got out to vote early because she was “tired of the campaign”. She says homelessness is her main concern this election,
and claimed the major parties were doing “nothing about it”.
“They just hand it to the police to deal with it, rather than solving the real problem and the housing crisis.”
NICOLE JAHRIG AND JOEY GROOM
The students were also wanting to get voting “out of the way”, saying their HECS debts were a major concern.
“I’m nervous,” Jahrig said.
“You’ve got politicians who are claiming they’ll cancel HECS debts, but why and how? There’s always a catch.”
SCOTT ROY
His main issue was with the high debts Australia has racked up during the pandemic, as well as “other issues” facing the nation.
“There’s massive debt, and the government isn’t dealing with it.
“They’re just throwing money at people, trying to sweeten the honeypot, but $1 trillion in debt is no joke. Neither party is doing much, but one is better than the other,” he said.
SERGE KOMADINA
He was more concerned by global political issues, and said the major parties had handled it “to the best of their abilities given the situation”.
“Things going on in the world right now might hit the Gold Coast more than they do in other places because, really, we depend on tourism.”