The political climate in Australia is getting quite charged. Gisele Kapterian, a Lebanese-Australian Liberal candidate, who has certainly made her presence felt with a controversial billboard campaign in the Bradfield Sydney electorate. With the election approaching, she is actively engaging voters, hoping to secure a seat that has become a focal point for the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Kapterian’s campaign is an important reminder of the very real barriers that many Australians still face. These issues, especially surrounding housing and economic stability, are deeply felt by constituents.
As millions of Australians prepare to head to the polls, Kapterian’s campaign efforts are intensifying. Some have even begun to swing into action, taking part in early voting already! It is about so much more than the individual candidates in this election. It captures the journey of workers who have been left behind in a country wracked by a cost of living crisis. Kapterian finds herself competing against independent candidate Nicolette Boele for the seat, making this race particularly vital in determining who will shape future government policies.
During the campaign period, Kapterian has been spotted engaging with voters as she hands out Liberal how-to-vote cards and pamphlets. Her approach exemplifies her commitment to getting into the weeds of her constituents’ concerns and coming up with creative solutions to their specific problems.
Addressing the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Gisele Kapterian’s campaign focuses on the high cost of living. This urgent crisis has led to fierce debate heading into the election. As she meets constituents, Kapterian emphasizes her belief that politicians must recognize the reality faced by many Australians struggling to afford housing.
“Cost of living is postcode agnostic, it means different things to different people in different contexts,” – Gisele Kapterian [ABC News: Liam Patrick]
This longterm view resonated with the experiences of voters such as Alethia, who laments a lack of affordable housing options. I love the way she notices all the people clamoring for housing. Financial barriers are the major determinant preventing them from securing and/or maintaining a stable home.
In a typical election dominated by housing issues, Kapterian would fit her campaign perfectly into the footsteps of Robert Menzies’ 1942 speech on Australia’s “forgotten class.” This historical context offers insight into how Kapterian frames her message: advocating for those who feel sidelined amidst political discourse.
The Competition in Bradfield
Gisele Kapterian is running against incumbent Sean Bradfield for that seat. She is up against independent candidate Nicolette Boele, who has been making waves with her focus on the rising cost of living and its negative effects. Boele’s words capture what so many people are going through right now with rising costs and inflation.
“People are hurting right across the stages of life,” – Boele [ABC News: Luke Stephenson]
This feeling expresses the heart of our present socio-economic reality, where inflation is rising across the board, hitting nearly every facet of life. In addition to Kapterian and Boele making their case to voters, both candidates’ ultimate challenge will be offering real, workable solutions to these urgent challenges.
Kapterian’s campaign aims to assure voters that the Liberal Party is committed to finding effective solutions to housing and cost-of-living issues. She told us that politicians need to face facts about these issues. They need to act decisively to address them.
Meeting Voters on the Campaign Trail
Kapterian’s personable approach to meeting voters further showcases her commitment to public service and desire to serve by better understanding their needs. With pamphlets in hand, she works to directly engage voters to the polls. It’s her focus on building these personal connections with constituents that comes through strongly in each conversation.
Her campaign should go further, looking to reassure voters that their concerns are real and deserve to be taken seriously. An example of Kapterian’s ability to listen is during a call with residents. They are passionate advocates, telling their stories and discussing the challenges they’re facing with housing and economic pressures.
The backdrop of restrictive early voting convenes an unprecedented level of urgency to her takeoff campaign efforts. And with hundreds of thousands of Australians having already voted, Kapterian knows that each interaction is a chance to sway the still undecided voters.
