By Parker McKenzie
Voters from three different electorates — Aston, Casey and Deakin — converge upon Boronia PPVC to cast their votes a week and a half before Election Day on May 21, as volunteers busily hand out how to vote cards to anyone who will take them.
On Wednesday 11 April, with early voting now in full swing, the Star Mail spoke to the volunteers hoping to sway people and guide preferences to the right place, in the hope of getting their chosen candidate over the line.
TNL candidate for Aston Ryan Bruce said he was handing out how to vote cards because the newly formed party is contesting its first election and he doesn’t have the volunteer base of other candidates.
“This is one of the most popular early voting centres in Aston, so I’m just down here for as long as I can, handing out the cards,” he said.
“Climate and integrity are two areas that have been greatly lacking for a long time. We’re using a net zero by 2030 target and a powerful integrity commission to put the corrupt politicians in jail.”
Mr Bruce is one of two TNL candidates running in Victoria.
A volunteer for UAP candidate for Aston Rebekah Spelman named Michael said he is supporting the party because of the “freedom policies and freedom choices.”
“I like the policies regarding finance and imposing a surcharge on iron or exports,” he said.
“I think the UAP will do pretty well, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Josephine Fay said she is supporting and volunteering for Labor candidate for Aston Mary Doyle because she believes in the values of the Labor Party.
“I want an integrity commission and action on climate change, childcare, women and gender issues, and I feel they are the best party that can offer these things,” she said.
“I’ve been living here for 40 years and I can’t remember a woman going for Aston. I think young people are disillusioned and we need a change.”
Margaret Sinclair said she is supporting Claire Ferres Miles in Casey because she believes it is important to have an independent voice.
“Someone who is going to vote for what is good for the electorate, rather than just voting along party lines,” she said.
“The values of integrity, honesty and caring for the environment are really important, and especially living up in the hills nothing is more important than climate change.”
Boronia PPVC is the closest early voting centre for many Dandenong Ranges residents, with no centres in the hills open until Election Day.
Irwin, another volunteer for Claire Ferres Miles, said he was supporting her campaign at the voting centre because she represents the same values he believes in.
“I’ve done this a few times now. I did this for the Greens previously but I find Claire an interesting person in her own right,” he said.
“There is more a chance Liberal people would vote for her than they’d ever vote for the Greens.”
A man wearing a pro-union shirt supporting Ms Doyle and Labor’s campaign said he was at the voting centre because he “believes in democracy,” but won’t give further comment.
David, who is volunteering for Liberal MP for Aston Alan Tudge, said he wanted to see the Morrison Government re-elected.
“We’ve been tough on China, we’ve developed AUKUS and we’ve improved our defences,” he said.
“We’ve cut taxes too, we’ve changed the senate voting system and we did same-sex marriage and a whole raft of things like the TPP trade agreement. Lots of things I am very proud of.”
Another volunteer for Mr Tudge refuses to comment on why he is supporting the Minister for Education’s re-election campaign.
Greens Party volunteer Deborah said she is supporting the party because of climate action.
“When I look at their policies, every policy seems to be ethically the right thing to do,” she said.
“I’m really concerned about the corruption in the major parties. People need to know the truth and not be sponsored by big business and mining companies.”
Boronia PPVC is located at 252 Dorset Road. It is open for early voting from 8am to 8pm Monday 16 May to Thursday 18 May and 8am to 6pm on Friday 20 May.
