In a survey of more than 4500 voters in Western Melbourne, Geelong and the Surf Coast, the most important issue to voters is the urgent need to re-open the Victorian economy.
83% of voters are calling on the Victorian Premier to release a clear plan on how our state can return to ‘normal’.
Not surprisingly, voters are concerned about projections of 400,000 job losses and the overall economic cost to Victoria of COVID-19 and Stage 3 & 4 lockdowns, which is estimated to be some $400 million per day.
More than 77 percent surveyed said they were concerned about the impacts on the Victorian economy.
The survey was commissioned by Senator Sarah Henderson and fielded in the safe Labor seats of Gorton, held by the Labor Party on a margin of 15 per cent, Corio (10 per cent) and the marginal Labor seat of Corangamite (1 per cent) on Wednesday night (September 2).
In the Geelong region, the results revealed residents were just as concerned about jobs and a plan to re-open the city, the region and the Surf Coast.
In the marginal seat of Corangamite, more than 1 in 3 voters regarded re-opening the economy as the most important issue to recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. This was closely followed by creating jobs – meaning more than 50 per cent of voters are concerned about the economic impact of the pandemic, above other issues including border security, climate change and health.
More than 80 per cent of Corangamite voters agreed that it was important for the Premier to produce a plan on how to return the state to normal following the outbreak of a second wave of the virus in Victoria, while 77 per cent of those surveyed were concerned about the impacts of the Stage 3 lockdowns in regional Victoria leading to further job losses and impacting the local economy.
In the adjacent Corio electorate 84 per cent of those surveyed said it was important for the Premier to outline a plan for returning Victoria to normal while 76 per cent were concerned about the economic impact of the virus.
More than one in two Corio residents stated creating more jobs and re-opening the economy were the most important issues to them – 55 percent in total.
“We desperately need to hear from the Victorian Government and local Labor MPs on how they plan to open the economy and get people back into work,” Senator Henderson said.
“Corio MP, Richard Marles, is the ALP’s Federal Deputy leader but has shown zero leadership and is too weak to stand up to Dan Andrews.”
“Of course the plan needs to be in a COVIDSafe way that protects the health of Victorians and those in the workplace.”
“The Morrison Government’s JobKeeper program has been an economic lifeline for Victorians to address a once in a century pandemic.”
“We now need the State Government to work with business on opening up, getting people back into work and putting Melbourne and regional Victoria into a much better place and on par with the rest of Australia which is strongly rebounding.”
4 September 2020