Health, climate and community sport: What older voters in the Tasmanian seat of Bass are talking about this election

Australia Broadcast Center

28-04-2025

In the northern Tasmanian city of Launceston about a dozen women have gathered to pack birthing kits to send to women in developing countries.
The women here are engaged, with a lot to say about Australian politics and the upcoming federal election.
"My biggest concern is the climate," Carol Fuller, 78, says.
Carol Fuller volunteers with organisations that promote gender equality and stand against gendered violence.
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I have two grandchildren, and I wonder what sort of a world they're going to inherit, or certainly their children are going to inherit, and nobody seems to be taking it seriously.
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The birthing-kit-packing session was organised by the Launceston chapter of Zonta, an international volunteer organisation advocating for the rights of women.
Ms Fuller is its president, on top of her duties as chair of the Launceston White Ribbon committee, a gender-based violence prevention organisation.
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Tasmanian federal electorates 2025 graphic.
All eyes will be on whether the Liberals can flip Lyons on election night, but could there be other surprising contests in Tasmania? Labor is hoping for a Braddon surge, while one of its ministers could be looking over her shoulder.
She's voting in the marginal electorate of Bass, which covers Launceston, north-east Tasmania and Flinders and Cape Barren islands.
Her day-to-day life is devoted to caring for others, particularly underprivileged women, which is reflected in her ethos towards the election.
"The other thing I'm concerned about, in terms of women, is the growing statistic of homeless women of our generation who weren't as lucky as us to have an education and a career, and therefore superannuation and a secure old age," Ms Fuller says.
In her own family, she's witnessing the financial struggles many Australians are currently experiencing.
Carol Fuller spoke last year at Launceston's candlelight vigil, which honoured those affected by domestic violence.
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"My daughter, who has two teenage kids, is working part-time and has just separated from her husband," she says.
"She's paying rent that she can't afford, plus helping to pay a mortgage in order to keep some equity in the house that they bought.
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So she's getting her inheritance early so that for this period of life she can manage to survive.
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Concerns about support for younger generations
Rose Parker, 65, is a retired teacher who now works with young offenders and those struggling to attend school.
"I think the inequity between non-government and government school funding is just appalling," she says.
"We should not have homeless people, we shouldn't have kids who can't go to school because they can't eat properly, we shouldn't have parents — who I deal with — who go in and shoplift food to eat and to sell it on because they don't have any money.
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These are our children we're talking about.
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Rose Parker is frustrated by the gap between the rich and poor in society.
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The major parties often warn against electing a minority government — which happens when the winning party doesn't secure enough seats to govern without the support of minor parties or independents — but that's not something Ms Parker is worried about.
She referenced the success former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard saw in passing legislation while in minority.
"I'm really looking forward to loads of Greens, and loads of independents, and loads of loud voices," she says.
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A man rests with his hands on the floor of a gym, with dumbbells near him and a woman walking past.
Online "masculinity" content is mainstream and wide-ranging — far broader than the toxic Andrew Tate style manosphere or incel culture touched on in the hit Netflix series Adolescence.
At Tuesday's session packing birthing kits, Zonta is joined by a few members of Soroptimists International, an organisation advocating for human rights and gender equality.
Tracey Wicks, 62, is the president of the Soroptimists' Launceston chapter and works as an end-of-life doula and mental health social worker.
"Women supporting women — that's what Zonta and that's what Soroptimists are about," she says.
Housing, education, health and gender equality are some of her biggest priorities.
"When we look at family violence, the thing is, if we want better men, we've got to raise better boys," she says.
"I think that healthy relationships needs to be part of education.
"A lot of these kids and a lot of our boys are looking at social media for influencers."
Reliable health system a priority for older voters
The West Launceston Bowls Club plays an important role in supporting members' mental and physical health.
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At the West Launceston Bowls Club, the members have just wrapped up a session on the green and gather at the bar.
Club president Phil Waddington, 81, says health is the biggest issue for his generation.
He's personally had good experiences in the system.
"As far as the Tasmanian hospital system goes for me, I think it's absolutely wonderful," he says.
Phil Waddington and Angus Greig say health is the most important issue for their generation.
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His friend, Angus Greig, interjects.
"But Phil has private medical cover, lots of people don't and then it's not as easy," the 83-year-old says.
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One of my concerns is the waste of money on this stadium in Hobart, when all that money could be put into the hospitals, because there's a long waiting time for hip replacements and things like that.
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Angus Greig plays in the club's division one team.
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The AFL has said if Tasmania wants to enter a team in the competition, it needs a roofed stadium.
Tasmania, supported by the federal government, plans to build a new stadium in Hobart at Macquarie Point.
The issue has divided Tasmanians, but Mr Waddington agrees with Mr Greig.
"We all love football, but we don't love it that much to pay that much," he says.
"As Angus said, the money can be well spent in the hospital system and for housing.
"We have a stadium here in York Park!"
Phil Waddington says the Tasmania and federal governments should not be spending money on a new Hobart stadium.
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Mr Waddington is supportive of
On May 3, he plans to vote for the sitting MP for his electorate of Bass, the Liberals' Bridget Archer.
Bowls clubs are often an important social space for older members of the community.
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He referenced how she has at times crossed the floor to vote against her party.
"Bridget is a politician who is true to her beliefs," he says.
"She's always got time for people in the area, when we had a little concern she had time for us."
Phil Waddington says a synethic bowling green would make life easier for members of the club.
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The two men say bowls plays an important role in their lives.
"It's not just the exercise, you've got the social side which is important when you're retired and have got nothing else," Mr Greig says.
Mr Waddington says he would love to see political funding for a new synthetic bowling green for their club, as the upkeep of the grass is difficult.
"If we could get the government or someone to put a synthetic green in here, therefore we can all play easily," he says.