In May, 2019, I voted for the LNP. I was one of the ‘Quiet Australians’ – going about my life. Busy as a working professional mum to two daughters. Busy supporting a friend who was just diagnosed with a recurrence of her cancer. Busy managing household finances which were still recovering after the economic downturn in WA saw my partner unemployed for years. Busy as a GP in a suburban practice, where some of my patients were facing their very worst nightmares.
I was busy.
And I was tired.
I voted hastily.
I laughed along with friends and colleagues – ‘They’re all as bad as each other’. I looked at simplified comparisons and thought I was choosing the best option for my family. Vote LNP and the WA economy will perhaps start to recover. My partner will keep his job and I won’t have to work as hard as I am. We won’t have to sell our house.
All of our hard work won’t go up in flames.
Yes, I’m aware of the irony of the last statement.
I usually make a very informed vote. I’m one of those people who love voting day. It is a privilege to be able to vote.
Women sacrificed, so that I can now vote. I get excited for the day itself. I love chatting to the placard holding representatives as we walk into our local primary school. I get a sausage at the sausage sizzle. I usually spend a lot of time reading policies, talking to friends and family members who can help if I don’t understand more complex policies.
This year, I simply didn’t have time. I voted hastily.
I made the wrong decision.
Top Comments
Labor went to the election with a $40 billion 'plan' to combat climate change. They were unable to articulate how exactly we would pay for that, instead they just asked us to vote them into government and trust them to figure out the details later.
Remember Labor's last government? They also had big plans, racked up an amazing amount of debt in a very short time, which didn't even include their biggest plans, NDIS, Gonski and NBN funding. These were promised, mostly unfunded and unimplemented.
Not all of us have short memories.
Instead the coalition now have to find the billions required to deal with the bushfires. At least having a plan is pro-active and forward-thinking..
This is the most accurate description of why SCOMO won- self interest in voting.
People forgetting the greater good and our generations total lack of perspective of what hardship is.
Thank you for being honest and being regretful - let’s of the quiet Australians ( or selfish as I prefer to think of them) wake up to the fact they actually benefit from decent policy too.