Drought relief, improving the National Disability Insurance Scheme and generally making Australia a better place – voters around Newcastle have no shortage of ideas on how Government MPs could be spending their time rather than plotting leadership coups.
Younger voters in particular are disillusioned with the constant instability.
“I have never voted in an election where a prime minister has lasted a full term,” Matt Byrnes, 24, from Newcastle said.
“It’s caused a lot of young people to turn off from politics. It’s like politicians are more interested in trying to retain power as opposed to doing what’s best for the country.”
It’s caused a lot of young people to turn off from politics. It’s like politicians are more interested in trying to retain power as opposed to doing what’s best for the country.
- Matt Byrnes, 24, Newcastle
Alyssa Heien from Mayfield East agreed.
“As a young person it seems like there is a lot of instability at the moment. It’s a bit of a worry not knowing where the country is going,” she said.
Mathew Cole from Shortland said he was dismayed that political vendettas had overtaken drought relief as a national priority.
“They are looking after themselves rather than everyone else,” he said.
“The drought situation is terrible, especially farmers committing suicide. They are trying to do stuff but there’s a lot more they can do to keep money in Australia rather than sending it overseas.”
Harry Houlahan from Fern Bay agreed
“I think it’s quite ridiculous, there’s a lot of instability,” he said.
“It’s not really helping the situation when there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. The last thing the Parliament needs is another leadership debacle.”
Peter Scott from Cobden, Victoria said Malcolm Turnbull had contributed to his own demise
“I think there needs to be a distinct difference between Labor and the Coalition,” he said.
“The way the Coalition is at the moment there’s not. Either Turnbull needs to pull his finger out and start acting like a conservative prime minister or he needs to go. Simple.”
Several people approached by the Herald declined to comment because they said they too disillusioned to comment.
Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
