Federal election 2025: Age influences Fremantle voters’ choices - ‘I’ll vote for whoever isn’t the big guy’

People on the streets of Fremantle remain “confused” about who they should vote for just 16 days out from the Federal election but it is clear that generation divide will play its part. Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson has been the Labor member for Fremantle since 2016, but older voters The West spoke to within the electorate this week claimed they would be pondering a change at the ballot box. The call to look elsewhere was backed by younger voters who would favour the non-major parties, generally leaning towards The Greens, but their preferences would likely flow Mr Wilson’s way. Young voters enjoying a coffee near High Street mall on Monday said TV advertisements alone were enough for them to turn their backs on the major parties. “They are just fighting with each other — maybe once they stop picking each other apart and start fighting for us, the people, then they will have a chance,” a Notre Dame University student said. “I really like Kate (Hulett), she is a real person and she cares about Fremantle. Otherwise, I might vote Greens but Liberal and Labor will be last on my paper, I know that.” Her coffee colleague, also a young voter in the Fremantle electorate, added she planned to vote for “whoever isn’t the big guy”. Kate Hulett, the artist-turned-Climate 200-backed independent, is attempting a second shot at politics after almost unseating Labor minister Simone McGurk at the State election last month. The profile she built in their recent memory may have given Ms Hulett fresh support from young voters but her popularity among retail workers and experienced voters was not as clear. Several High Street business owners and workers told The West they won’t be voting for Ms Hulett because they hade never seen or heard from her. “She didn’t win at the State election so now she is trying again. If she doesn’t win this one she will probably try and become mayor next. It’s just really odd because who is she?” one retail store owner said. “The young people might think she’s great because she claims to be all about the environment but I actually think she sends really mixed messages so she doesn’t have my vote.” Most experienced voters The West spoke to insisted the choice was between Mr Wilson and Liberal candidate Tait Marston but they felt Labor had not taken its chance to turn the economy around. “I’m not saying Liberal can do any better but you just won’t know until you give them the chance. Labor has had their chance,” a 57-year-old Fremantle construction worker said. “Liberal and Labor are both wings of the same bird. I don’t think it really matters which one I pick but I know I won’t be voting for the independent because she’s not really independent now is she.”