Bennelong is one of the tightest contests at this election, on a margin of 0.04%, that is around 84 votes. Political reporter Claudia Long has been going around the country speaking with people in places that will have a big sway this election. She is currently in some of Sydney’s big seats to get a sense of how this will all play out.
00:00We're here in the electorate of Bradfield this morning in North Sydney, but right over
00:06the road is the electorate of Bennelong.
00:08It's a tight contest over there.
00:10The man who holds this seat currently is Labor's Jerome Lacksail.
00:13He's here with me today.
00:14Jerome, how are you going at the pre-poll today?
00:17Look, pre-poll's been great and just builds on sort of three years of working really hard
00:22in the electorate as a federal MP.
00:23Of course, I was mayor and councillor before that, in Ryde in particular.
00:27Coming out here, having a chat to people, you know, most people know who they're voting
00:31for, but just to engage at that last minute is a really important part of the democratic
00:35process.
00:36I've done this before, so it's just, yeah, nice to see people getting out there and participating.
00:41You said you've done this before.
00:42Of course, you won at the last election.
00:44Since then, there's been a redistribution with the abolition of the seat of North Sydney,
00:48which is now gone.
00:49This seat of Bennelong is now notionally a Liberal seat, not a Labor one.
00:55Are you nervous?
00:56Eighty-four votes is the margin, so it's tight.
00:59Really tight.
01:00Does it keep you up at night?
01:01No, actually it doesn't.
01:02I sleep really well, which is nice.
01:04But look, 20 years ago, big problem for me, right?
01:07But I think two things have happened in that 20 years.
01:10We've had a demographic change, a lot more young professionals living here, health workers,
01:15renters, particularly along the Pacific Highway and around Lane Cove.
01:19But the Liberal Party's also changed, right?
01:21Peter Dutton's Liberals are not John Howard's Liberals.
01:24Peter Dutton leads a government that's divisive, doesn't take the right action on climate change,
01:32that has this ridiculous nuclear policy, $600 billion of taxpayers' money to go into that.
01:36So I think an area like this are opposed to that, and we'll see how they vote on Election Day.
01:42When you talk to voters, I mean, you've talked a lot about Peter Dutton just then, but what do you talk about around what Labor is offering?
01:49Because a lot of people are struggling, they're telling us that they're not happy, they're telling us that they are not feeling heard, for instance, particularly people in housing stress or who are homeless.
01:58What do you have to offer them?
02:00Well, we've done a lot in housing in particular over the last three years.
02:03Only last week we were able to celebrate a new social and affordable housing development being built in Macquarie Park because of Labor's policies.
02:12And this is just the start. We've got over 1,000 built-to-rent properties coming here just in Bennelong as part of the government's plans.
02:18But we know that there's more to do, which is why we've rolled out 5% deposits for first home buyers while we're reserving.
02:24100,000 homes, particularly for first home buyers as well, so they're not competing with others.
02:29And we've got all those built-to-rent properties coming online.
02:34All these policies have been opposed by the Liberal Party.
02:37So, yes, it's been tough. We've acknowledged that. We've put out policies and relief.
02:41But you look at the alternative and the cupboard's pretty bare.
02:44Peter Dutton has opposed every cost of living measure.
02:47They'll dismantle the half, which is delivering tens of thousands of social and affordable homes.
02:51And people want solutions, not slogans.
02:54You mentioned housing as one of the key issues there.
02:57Of course, one of the things that drives people into homelessness and experiencing housing stress is domestic, sexual and family violence.
03:03Now, we've seen a number of women killed in recent weeks.
03:08Those numbers remain high.
03:11What is Labor going to do about that, given that the Coalition has put forward a package?
03:16And we've heard from frontline workers that this government, while doing some stuff, hasn't done enough.
03:22Yeah, well, I'm glad you mentioned housing as a part of it, because that's a huge part.
03:25You know, people are either trapped at home, can't find emergency or crisis accommodation.
03:30And a big part of our Housing Australia Future Fund is specifically reserved for women fleeing violence, emergency accommodation, social and affordable housing.
03:39We know that's all at risk under a Dutton government.
03:42They will dismantle the half and can't even say how many social and affordable homes they'll build.
03:47We had that debate with the Housing Ministers on 7.30 recently.
03:50So this is a really important part of our response to this scourge of domestic and family violence
03:57and builds on a $4 billion commitment we have to address this, including the $5,000 crisis payment.
04:04But housing is a huge part and it forms part of our approach to dealing with this crisis.
04:08And just finally, whether or not there's a Labor government, a minority government, a coalition government,
04:13who is going to be the first Minister that you meet with to talk about this seat and some of the issues that are being faced here?
04:19I want to meet the Climate Change and Energy Minister and the Environment Minister.
04:23We have some huge reforms that we need to do in establishing a national EPA and reforming our environmental laws.
04:31They'll be top of the list.
04:33But also the Treasurer, you know, the job on cost of living is not done.
04:37So I'd love to give some feedback from him that I've gathered over the last two weeks and months,
04:41and particularly in regards to the new parts of the electorate.
04:44You know, they need a good, strong local MP and that's what I'll be.
04:49Drame Laxell, thank you very much for your time.
04:50Thanks a lot.
04:51And take a look.
04:52Drame Laxell, thank you very much.
05:01Drame Laxell, thank you very much for the next few neues.
05:03You should see a big picture of me, very interesting.
05:07Drame Laxell, thank you very much for the current human drill��요.
