The three biggest election issues for Victorian at the upcoming Federal election

Victoria is a key battleground state this election.

For both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, there’s a path to the Lodge through Victoria.

Both leaders hold a swathe of seats across the city’s west and southeast.

However, Victoria is home to at least 16 seats that are too close to call, with the outcome of several electorates deemed crucial to both major parties’ success on May 3.

NewsWire headed out to early voting booths this week and spoke to residents in the key electorates of Chisholm, Kooyong, Dunkley and Macnamara.

Most residents agreed there were three key issues that were front of mind – cost-of-living, housing and crime.

Chisholm

In the marginal seat of Chisholm, first-term Labor MP Carina Garland is fighting to hold on to the eastern suburban seat, while former Higgins Liberal MP Katie Allen looks to reclaim it after losing it at the 2022 election.

Following a redraw of boundaries that saw the Higgins electorate abolished, the margin between the two is tight, at just 3.3 per cent.

Dianne Hawkins, 81, said she thinks the biggest issues for people in her electorate of Chisholm were cost-of-living and crime.

“Obviously it’s cost-of-living. It doesn’t effect me so much, but I know it’s very hard for my kids and grandchildren,” she said, as she walked into the Ashburton scout hall to vote.

“I think youth crime is another big issue. I know that’s more state, but it is an issue isn’t it, Australia wide.”

Ms Hawkins said she voted for the Liberal Party because she agrees with their values.

Another Chisholm resident, Anita Hogan, who is in her 60s, said she thinks the biggest issues for people in her electorate of Chisholm were crime and housing.

Ms Hogan said she was casting her vote for Labor.

“I believe in their education policies,” she said.

Marcia Atkinson, 77, who is also voting for Labor, said the party won her vote because she was “impressed with what the government has done in the last term”.

For Ms Atkinson, housing for young people was the key issue in this year’s election.

Kooyong

Bordering the Chisholm electorate, Kooyong is also a hotly contested seat, with Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer hoping to take it from teal independent Monique Ryan.

The battleground electorate has been the stage for some of the more controversial moments during this federal election.

Allegations include Dr Ryan’s husband removing campaign posters, and accusations that Ms Hamer lied about her status as a renter.

On Wednesday night, a white supremacist crashed a candidate’s forum in the electorate, leading to a sensational scuffle.

Cash Bodhni, who lives in Kooyong, was not fazed by the politicking, and said he would be voting for Labor.

“I agree with their values,” he said.

The 33-year-old said that the biggest issue for people his age were housing and HECS.

Also a Kooyong resident, Tamrae Kerr, 62, said she would be voting for Dr Ryan.

“What really bothers me about the Liberal Party is they’re pushing this whole nuclear thing, and I just don’t think it’s the way to go at all. I think the way forward is renewables,” she said.

Ms Kerr said that while the environment is her biggest concern for the upcoming election, she was conscious that the cost of living is a major issue.

Dunkley

At the Carrum Downs community centre in the Dunkley electorate, early voters took to the polls to decide in a classic Red-Blue contest.

Labor retained the key seat in a by-election held in March last year, following the death of MP Peta Murphy, with a margin of 2.7 per cent. This election will be a fierce rematch between Labor MP Jodie Belyea and the Liberal Party candidate, Nathan Conroy.

Ken, a 77-year-old man from Dunkley, said he was voting for Mr Conroy and the Liberal Party.

“I just feel we need a change, and to get some of the concepts that the Liberals and the Coalition seem to want,” he said.

Cheryl Robello agreed, saying that she thinks the Liberal Party would “do a great job”.

Ms Robello said her vote was based on crime rates in Victoria, and the “amount of money spent on the yes/no vote”.

While one of the major parties is tipped to take Dunkley, Paul Evans, a 57-year-old schoolteacher, said he would be voting for the Greens.

“My main concern is the atrocities happening in Gaza at the moment, and it breaks my heart to see that so many people are being slaughtered in the name of conflict,” he said.

“I want to see equitable housing for residents and individuals, I want to see education … the climate crisis as well is something that deeply concerns me.”

The vote of one Carrum Downs’ man remained up for grabs, after he had dropped past the election booth without casting a ballot, as he was eager to speak with the MPs in attendance about their policies.

Ross Atkins, a 52-year-old local said he had watched the leaders’ debates, and was unimpressed.

“No one’s got me across the line yet.”

For Mr Atkins, safety and energy were the key issues he was concerned about.

“I put solar in, and the tariffs have gone up since … there’s no incentive to get solar,” he said.

“The power plant that’s coming in 20 years? Mate, I’ll be 70.”

Macnamara

Meanwhile, casting their votes at the scenic St Kilda lifesaving club, residents in the Macnamara electorate were deciding on a three-way contest.

Greens candidate Sonya Semmens could potentially take the seat from Labor MP Josh Burns, polls have suggested. Analysts contend that although Liberal MP Benson Saulo is unlikely to win, enough votes going his way could push Labor out and the Greens in.

Paul Larkin, 63, said he would be voting for the Greens.

“I do believe that they’ve got a chance to have a good strong third voice in parliament,” he said.

Cost of living and housing were the biggest election issues for Mr Larkin.

Fellow Macnamara resident, Mark Merton, said he would be voting for “Big Josh” (Labor MP Josh Burns).

“He’s been a really good local candidate,” the 60-year-old local man said.

“He’s a good voice for this region, and I don’t mind Labor overall.

“You couldn’t possibly vote for Dutton, could you?”

Mr Merton revealed that as someone who had recently been robbed, crime was a key election issue for him.

Voters across the nation will continue to flock to early voting booths, with a day of reprieve slated for Anzac Day.