source : the age
Mike Walsh has election signs outside his home for the Greens MP and his Labor challenger.
He’s not the only one still making his mind up in the battle for Brisbane.
“The price of everything has gone up through the roof, and it’s affected a lot of people who are doing it tough,” he says from his New Farm home.
Mike Walsh at his home in New Farm, Brisbane. Credit: William Davis
“Houses are getting to a point where only the rich can afford them. Rent especially around this area is ridiculously expensive.
“There’s a lot of people who have been affected over successive governments – not just Liberal, but Labor as well.”
Incumbent Green Stephen Bates took the seat from the LNP’s Trevor Evans in the progressive party’s historic Brisbane sweep three years ago, shocking political pundits across the country and prompting leader Adam Bandt to declare a “Greenslide”.
Bates holds the electorate with a 3.7 per cent margin, but finished in third place at the last election before preferences were counted.
New Farm in the electorate of Brisbane. Credit: William Davis
A well-resourced campaign from Labor’s Madonna Jarrett – who also ran at the last election – is setting up the race as a genuine three-way rematch, and one that could be key to either major party forming government.
Up the road from Walsh, army veteran Robert Wilson is backing former LNP member Trevor Evans to reclaim the seat.
“I think cost of living … is probably my priority,” he said.
“I suppose I look at the Liberal Party and I see the faults, and I see the faults with Labor.”
The seat of Brisbane takes in inner-city suburbs including riverside New Farm and Newstead, the well-heeled Clayfield and Hamilton, as well as Albion, Lutwyche, Bowen Hills, Kelvin Grove, Newmarket, Enoggera, Windsor, Wilston and Wooloowin, plus the CBD and parts of Stafford and Bardon.
Before his two-term stint from 2016, Evans served as chief of staff to now-Liberal leader Peter Dutton. He has also worked as an economist, investigator for the ACCC and chief executive of the National Retail Association.
The 43-year-old is an avid outdoor enthusiast, and, in his downtime, one of the most accomplished bird photographers in Queensland.
Trevor Evans, who lost the seat in 2022.Credit: William Davis
He says he understands why voters turned on the Coalition in 2022, but believes Bates has not lived up to community expectations and he would be better placed to deliver for the electorate.
“Politics on one level is intensely personal … you know, losing is tough,” he says. “There’s a reason why lots of candidates and members who lose don’t go on to seek re-election.
“The mix of issues at this election is simpler than it has ever been before. This election is all about cost of living. It is far and away the biggest issue.
“Fundamentally, the electorate of Brisbane has had an opportunity to see how representation by the Greens works, and I think there’s a lot of buyers’ remorse.”
Greens MP Stephen Bates.Credit: William Davis
Bates says he’s been a strong voice for Brisbane, and argues the possibility of Labor losing its majority could give the Greens unprecedented leverage.
“We’re staring down the barrel of minority government, which, I think, is really exciting and such a unique position for this electorate to be in,” the 32-year-old said.
“Do you want someone on the crossbench who is in the box seat in a minority government? Or do you want a backbencher who’s going to have to just accept what people on the crossbench give them anyway?”
If they hold the balance of power, the Greens are promising to force a Labor government to increase taxes on multinational companies, include dental and mental health cover in Medicare, increase public housing construction and end approvals for new coal and gas projects.
“People aren’t going to accept the status quo any more, and that is also something I hear a lot of. People saying the sooner we smash the two-party system, the better for the country,” Bates said.
“If people decide to vote for me, what they’re signing up for is someone that’s going to show up for the community every single time, no matter how hard it is and no matter what the vote is.”
Jarrett is representing the Labor Party a second time, having run in 2022. She received the second-most initial votes before being eliminated on preference flows at the last election.
She grew up in the area, and works for Deloitte advising on how to attract women to the workforce.
A corflute for Madonna Jarrett outside a Brisbane home.Credit: William Davis
The party has run an organised ground campaign, and Jarrett herself has knocked more than 10,000 doors over the past year.
“I’m a born-and-bred local, and I’m a working mum with international corporate experience who since the last election has been talking with anyone and everyone I can,” she said after wrapping up a media engagement with the Prime Minister at the Paddo Tavern.
“I can secure a better deal for Brisbane, as I’ll have a seat at the table within the government and that’s where I can really advocate strongly for our community.
“I think our community really deserves a representative who’ll be there, who’ll listen, who’ll deliver, and who intends on bringing our community together.
“This is going to be a very close election, and the seat of Brisbane is going to be a very, very close seat.”
One Nation, Family First, Trumpet of Patriots, People First and Fusion are also running candidates.
