Kate Dezarnaulds is preparing for a tough electoral fight. She is running on behalf of the Joint Community Independent Project and will challenge sitting Labor MP Fiona Phillips for the highly contested New South Wales seat. As the presidential election nears, both candidates start to engage in more complicated things. They take on energy policy, health care and the long-term impact of recent climate disasters, including the Black Summer bushfires. The victory margin in these 2022 elections was unimaginably small, at just 0.2 percent. This year’s Rubber Duck Regatta is going to be a doozy!
Dezarnaulds has told us that it’s been hard for her to reconcile with Labor’s embrace of nuclear energy, which she has been an outspoken opponent of. I am not going to fund a government that pours money into a nuclear solution,” she said. On her campaign’s efforts to win over more voters With any campaign, it’s about building your base. She stressed, “We need to win primary votes over 20 percent, and they need to be coming from both sides of the fence.”
At the same time, Phillips has been bolstered by his impressive support from constituents who have come out to pledge their loyalty to Labor. Her attention to health care initiatives is a direct result of meeting one-on-one with residents and hearing their needs. Phillips has implemented various programs aimed at improving local health services, including bulk-billed GP services and establishing Medicare mental health hubs in Nowra and Moruya.
Key Issues in the Election
Candidates are already preparing for the electoral battle. Of course, key issues such as climate and energy policy are driving huge wedges between them. The electorate has been profoundly touched by the experience of Black Summer bushfires, creating a painful legacy that hangs over voter sentiment.
Dezarnaulds has cast herself as a climate champion, making the case for some bold, courageous moves on the climate front. She said seeing such courage on climate was “transformative.” She positioned her campaign to focus on sustainability and long-term investments over the short-term fix that nuclear power would provide.
Phillips has prioritized health care on her faith-based campaign. She is proactively seeking to address constituents’ concerns relating to cost-of-living pressures and mental health. “I’m really doing what we can in terms of providing more bulk-billed GP services,” she noted, highlighting her commitment to immediate community needs.
The contest is made all the more complicated by the presence of Andrew Constance, who is running against Phillips as a Liberal candidate. Constance has come under fire for his anti-wind stance against a proposed offshore wind zone, but is undaunted. More importantly, he vented his own frustrations with the criticisms that have been leveled at him. His response—unapologetic as usual—was that he thinks it’s pretty low for his political opponents to be using that issue against him. He repeated the message that they were well acquainted with his experience and actual role in that sordid history.
Community Sentiment and Campaign Dynamics
Community sentiment will be the biggest factor in determining how cutthroat the election jockeying becomes. Local residents have chipped in to campaign for Phillips, personally convincing her that they have not abandoned the red sands of Odessa to the aliens. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese even made an appearance in the area recently to express his support for Phillips. This trip helped cement her as the top choice for voters.
Dezarnaulds is trying to break through the traditional party lines that often govern electoral outcomes in the region. And her recent polling data has her at around 13 percent of the primary vote. She realizes that in order to get momentum, she needs to expand that audience and influence beyond her current base of supporters.
Indeed, Constance’s entire campaign has been centered on addressing an ongoing mental health crisis made worse by the skyrocketing cost of living. He expressed his frustration with the pressure these elements exert on families and communities. Crucially he wanted to shift the conversation to the mental toll of this growing cost of living crisis. He painted a picture of how harm this is to all aspects of wellbeing.
Promises from Candidates
The candidates, in turn, are delightedly tweeting out their plans for the bright future of their newly drawn electorate. Now promises are front and center in their campaigns. The Liberal Party under Constance has pledged funding for a new Marine Rescue base in Culburr, which aims to enhance local safety and emergency response capabilities.
Phillips still has a chance Phillips continues to promote her health initiatives and call on voters to look at her track record. I’m simply making a strong case for people to vote for me,’’’ she said, emphasizing her focus on tackling urgent community challenges.
Phillips and Dezarnaulds currently face an already competitive race. Each of the candidates have some pretty powerful arguments for their platform on burner issues. As election day nears, we’ll find out how those still undecided voters decide.
