DISENCHANTMENT with Australia’s political system and concern about health care were at the forefront of people’s minds in Camperdown when The Standard visited to ask what issues mattered to them in the federal election.
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Lyn Gray of Camperdown said it really did not matter which political party was in power for “run-of-the-mill Aussies” such as herself.
“For us little people, nothing changes,” Ms Gray said.
But she said health care was a major issue for the couple because it “costs a fortune” and the two were getting older.
Her husband Ross said winning government in Australia was mainly a battle between the top two political parties and he sometimes did not make up his mind until election day.
For Graeme and De Pool of Camperdown, health care and the future of Medicare remained a big issue despite Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s assurances the Liberals had no plans to privatise Medicare.
Ms Pool said for many people with health issues on limited incomes, not having a doctor that bulk billed imposed a significant additional cost on them.
Mr Pool said both the Liberal and Labor parties had not done anything significant when they were in government because they did not have the funds to do so.
Mr Pool said he and his wife were both pensioners and better health care for seniors was a major issue for them.
Mr Pool said he had always voted Labor but did not know who he would vote for in this federal election.
Raelene Morey said she was angry with the major political parties and was considering voting for the Greens this election.
Ms Morey said she was disappointed with Malcolm Turnbull who had previously supported an Australian republic and gay rights but had not pushed those issues since his elevation to prime minister.
Warrnambool man David Hounslow, who was visiting Camperdown, said whether politicians had shown integrity played a important part in who he voted for.
Mr Hounslow said he changed his vote some years ago because he believed the then prime minister John Howard was telling lies about asylum seekers throwing children overboard.
He believed Labor had caught out the Liberals, who had been planning changes to Medicare. Better roads were also an issue for him.