Liberal MP Fiona Scott hits the streets to sell budget to voters in the marginal seat of Lindsay

Updated

We catch up with Fiona Scott mid-afternoon, a week after the Abbott Government's first budget.

The new Liberal member for the Western Sydney seat of Lindsay is pounding the pavement on Penrith's High Street.

She set out on her first street walk just after sunrise to talk to the buyers and sellers at the busy Penrith Markets.

Like many of her marginal seat colleagues, she is keen to find out what voters have made of the budget.

But in the highly-prized and marginal seat of Lindsay, the reaction will be watched particularly closely.

Ms Scott holds the seat by a margin of just under 6 per cent after snatching it from former Labor frontbencher David Bradbury.

On the day ABC Online meets Ms Scott, university students have been protesting against the budget on Sydney's streets and the Coalition has suffered a big poll hit.

She says most voters she has spoken to feel the budget's cuts are necessary medicine.

"What I've been hearing overwhelmingly is [that] people want to see a government that's responsible, a government that's going to get the budget under control," she said.

"They're happy to see that the Abbott Government and Joe Hockey have actually heard that advice - they've actually delivered a budget that's going to provide financial security for our country."

She says people have questions but mainly about the budget's selling points.

Tony Abbott, he's got to think twice a bit about some of it. I particularly know a disabled lady ... and she's going to find it extremely hard. James Moonen

"People have had questions in regard to the infrastructure package," she said.

"There's going to be $3.5 billion worth of infrastructure that is coming to Western Sydney - we finally have a government that is believing in the people of Western Sydney.

"For us here in Lindsay, that's going to involve things like the Northern Road, people leaving Glenmore Park everyday - those sort of intersections will be fixed in due course."

While we're with her, Ms Scott speaks to a couple of voters.

The first two men we come across have reservations.

"Tony Abbott, he's got to think twice a bit about some of it," James Moonen said.

"I particularly know a disabled lady ... and she's going to find it extremely hard."

His friend, Aaron Parr, a forklift driver from St Marys, said the budget was "a bit harsh" but would not affect single men like him "too badly".

Mother-of-four Belinda Connon, who has met Ms Scott before, gave the budget a thorough endorsement.

"I like the budget," Ms Connon said.

I think it's about time people started doing things and stopped accepting that things are free. Our taxes pay for these things, and it's about time people started realising that and getting off the free Labor ride. Belinda Connon

"I think it's about time people started doing things and stopped accepting that things are free.

"Things aren't free - we have to pay for them. Our taxes pay for these things, and it's about time people started realising that and getting off the free Labor ride.

"I don't think it's Tony Abbott's fault it's happened, it's Gillard and Rudd's fault it's happened.

"I'm quite happy, also, with the co-payment. I think it's about time. Medicare is not free, it costs us money.

"So thank you for putting in a good effort for the budget and hopefully we'll all get out of debt. It's time to start living within our means."

Ms Scott tells us Ms Connon has recognised her from pre-election door knocking.

Voters concerned about fuel excise, GP co-payment

But once cameraman Geoff Kemp and I head out on our own, there's little love on the streets for the Coalition.

John Lehn, 66, is a self-funded retiree who has lived in the area for more than 40 years.

We ask him whether it's a good budget for Penrith.

"Well it's not good for the normal person. This is not a really wealthy society up here - we're just normal people, earning normal money. It's not a good budget for those people," he said.

Pressed as to what exactly he did not like, Mr Lehn named the measure linking the fuel excise to inflation.

"That will affect everyone, regardless of where you live," he said.

"The medical co-payment, that would affect everyone."

They've just put in a purchase of so many [Joint Strike Fighter] aeroplanes - [it] makes you wonder how they're going to pay for that. John Lehn

He says he does not really know much about where the Government is spending money in Western Sydney, but is aware the revenue raised from the fuel tax changes will be spent on roads.

"But whether it gets there, who knows," he said.

"They've just put in a purchase of so many [Joint Strike Fighter] aeroplanes - [it] makes you wonder how they're going to pay for that."

Mark Johnston, 46, is unemployed and says the $7 Medicare co-payment will hurt.

"I see a doctor at least three times a week - I couldn't afford to pay that, not on what I get," he said.

He's also heard the price of fuel is going up and "how they're supposed to be fixing the roads".

Like Mr Lehn, he says he is doubtful it will happen.

Jaydon Laney, a 16-year-old apprentice concreter, was not aware of the $20,000 concessional loan the Government is offering new apprentices, but said he welcomed it.

He was also pleased the Government is making people under the age of 30 wait six months before they can apply for the dole.

"I think it's good, it gets kids off their arse and [to] work ... instead of being lazy [and] sitting at home bludging," he said.

But he says he is worried fuel tax hikes will see petrol eat up his wage when he starts driving.

I think [changes to the unemployment benefit] are good, it gets kids off their arse and [to] work ... instead of being lazy [and] sitting at home bludging. Jaydon Laney

Overall he thinks the budget is "crap" and will make it harder for young people to get a start.

His friend Louis Batty, also 16, is still at school and thinking about going to university.

But he says the fee hikes resulting from the Government's push to deregulate the tertiary sector would make him think twice.

"Definitely, if the fees are too high, it would definitely shave off a few more people from going. I might not end up going," he said.

Local pharmacist Stewart Yeung is pleased with the plan to set up the $20 billion medical research fund.

"I think a lot of the researchers in Australia are actually going overseas. It's actually a good thing that they're trying to keep researchers in Australia," he said.

But he is concerned about increases to the costs of medications under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

"It's a little bit harsh, I think, on pensioners. I think each script at the moment costs $6 and for them to hike it up 80 cents, that's quite a [large] increase," he said.

"If they're taking three or four medications it will become quite tough on them."

He says customers have been raising the budget with him.

It's a little bit harsh, I think, on pensioners. I think each script at the moment costs $6 and for them to hike it up 80 cents, that's quite a [large] increase. Stewart Yeung

"[I've had] a lot of customers coming in saying that they're saving as much as they can at the moment, not knowing what's going to happen in the future," he said.

Mt Druitt resident Anne Stone is unhappy about the changes to Family Tax Benefit B.

The Government plans to cut the payment when a family's youngest child turns six.

"I think they should do, maybe, an asset test on who should be able to keep it," she said.

"I have a daughter, who due to no fault of her own is a single mother, and she actually has two special-needs children. One of them is autistic ... where's the money for the food, for the children.

"I think Tony Abbott has come in too full on ... we can get ahead by making smaller cuts, he doesn't have to dig the knife in so deep."





Topics: budget, government-and-politics, penrith-2750, nsw, sydney-2000, australia

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