Sign of the times? Disillusion and apathy in election battleground

Nichol, 46, says a lot of businesses in the area are feeling the strain, and she’s already taken a pay cut to keep her company going.

“I find it embarrassing that I’m not in a better financial position for all the work I’ve been doing,” she said.

“Bills are way too high for what we’re earning… the days go so quickly that before you know it, the bills are there to pay again.”

Nichol is also on the waiting list for a hip replacement due to arthritis, and is worried about what will happen when she can’t work.

She’s been waiting for a procedure since November 2023, and is due to undergo surgery in September this year.

“I’m on the list and that’s fine, everyone else is on a list… I just feel we’re all being pushed to go private now,” she says.

She says overall, she’s feeling disillusioned with politics ahead of the general election.

“You just see them arguing on TV amongst themselves, and I feel they just don’t have a clue what everyone is going through right now,” she says.