Race for Curtin: voters are ‘undecided’ and feel cost-of-living pains despite western suburbs’ affluence

Curtin is streets ahead of any other WA electorate in the money stakes, but cost-of-living and housing affordability, like everywhere else, are top of mind for voters. From Innaloo in the north of the seat to Mosman Park in the south, residents told The West Australian they too were feeling the squeeze. The candidates have reported they’re getting the same message loud and clear on the hustings. “Cost of living was by far the most significant issue that’s raised with me across the many thousands of doors that I’ve knocked on,” said Tom White, who is campaigning to return the former Liberal stronghold back to the party on May 3. “There is angst bordering on hopelessness when it comes to housing,” he said. “People are very despondent about it, particularly young people. It is almost at the point where they’ve abandoned hope of actually getting a foot on the rung of the property market.” The woman standing in Mr White’s way, incumbent M Kate Chaney, agreed the housing crisis was the issue “that comes up again and again.” The independent candidate said Curtin had the same proportion of renters as the national average. She said the major parties risked making things worse with short term cash splashes that would throw more fuel on the fire. “Economists have largely criticised policies on both sides as being demand side,” she said. Ms Chaney wanted to see more done on the supply side. “I think we’re seeing this divergence between economics and politics, where they’re both playing politics and no one’s actually listening to the economists.” The surprise for The West was the ratio of voters who said they were still undecided. Mary Richardson of Floreat was among those still assessing their options. Ms Richardson, who worked at the University of WA, said she could see students there struggling to meet accommodation and other costs. Uninspired by either Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton, her vote would likely be swayed by the local candidates. She said the incumbent MP was “lovely” and “very popular” but she wasn’t ready to commit her vote just yet. “We’ll have to wait ... I can’t be giving my secrets away,” she joked. Bridget, from Nedlands, was leaning towards backing the Independent MP for a second term. “I voted for her last time, and I’ll probably vote for her again,” she said. “She is willing to look at issues thoughtfully and to really listen to people ... There’s a lot of people complaining about where her money comes from. But take that issue and apply it to both sides,” she said. Issues-wise, she said the difficulties faced by first-time home buyers, were near the top. She described Labor’s promise to give them access to five per cent deposits as an “interesting idea.” “I was just trying to explain to my teenage son, how decisions made like two decades ago, are impacting things now, and why both parties seem reticent to change those things, like negative gearing,” she said. Bridget said global issues were also on her mind. “Climate change is a big issue for thinking about our future and our kids,” she said. From Canada originally, she said Australia needed to employ a bit of Canada’s “elbows up” stance in standing up to Donald Trump and his demands. Janet Newnham from Innaloo was hoping to get some divine inspiration. “I just trust God to lead me to make the right decision,” she said. Although she wasn’t personally impacted by the housing crisis, it would influence her vote. “People can’t get rentals and the rents are so high in our area,” she said. “There’s lots of people I know who are renting and their children are in school, and then the owners want to sell the house or raise the rent, and they have got nowhere to go because they want to keep the kids in the school. It’s really sad.” Jim and Jess from Scarborough said they were underwhelmed by the major parties’ campaigns. “They’re all the same, and no one’s got anything inspiring to say, and you don’t really want either of the leaders to be our PM, to be perfectly honest,” Jess said. “There needs to be someone who’s a point of difference, and I think Kate Chaney is doing a good job of that.” Jim said he was unsure. “I need to do a little more reading, and it’s probably going to come down to a gut reaction on the day,” he said. “I don’t want to be a single-issue voter and just smuggle in all these other things that I don’t agree with.” University students Asha Moxham and Emily Laslett, both 20, said they also planned to do research before May 3. The Cottesloe pair said it would be their first time voting in a federal election. “The cost-of-living is pretty hard for us,” said Ms Laslett. “We can’t afford much for ourselves at the moment being students.” Policies, not personalities, would decide their votes. They agreed easing health care costs and bulk-billing availability was a priority. Bill Hulston was an oddity - a Labor voter in Perth’s richest suburb Dalkeith. “There’s a few of us, not many,” he said. “I’ve voted Labor all my life. My dad was a coal miner.” Cottesloe parents Ryan and Tanami Llowarch were undecided. Mr Llowarch was taking a scientific approach to the task. At the last election he used AI to devise a personalised quiz based on his age, income and other inputs. From his answers, it told him which of the parties’ policies best matched, rating them one to five. The couple identified their kids’ schooling as a priority for them. They’d recently moved them to a private school. “We’ve been pretty upset with the public school system,” Mr Llowarch said. Education was a major-cost-of-living issue in Curtin with reports grandparents were increasingly contributing towards the private school fees for their grandchildren. New research commissioned by Independent Schools Australia found that 72 per cent of WA parents would have to seriously adjust their household budget if school fees increased by 15 per cent or more. According to last month’s survey, 66 per cent identified cost of living as the biggest election issue. “The greatest threat to our families is the uncertainty over Federal funding and the threats of Federal policy changes, which could drive up school fees and limit school choice,” Chris Massey, executive of the Association of Independent Schools of WA, said. “We know many families make significant sacrifices to support an education that aligns with their beliefs, values, and child’s needs, particularly as cost-of-living pressures increase.” Mr White, a political pup at 37, insists he is the underdog in the Curtin race, which is shaping up to be another cliffhanger. The Liberals accept they have get it back to stand a chance at winning power. Ms Chaney holds the seat by a slender 1.3 per cent margin. Local doctor Victor Ko is Labor’s candidate for Curtin, while Kitty Hemsley, a speech pathologist, is running for the Greens.