Boots on the ground: Independent candidate Deb Leonard goes door-to-door in Inverloch

Last Sunday morning, as the rains came down, Deb Leonard - Independent candidate for Monash at the forthcoming federal election - was pounding the pavements of Inverloch with a group of volunteers.

Leonard’s campaign said it had so far knocked on 5,000 doors across Monash. About half of those doors were opened by the inhabitants.

Most of those who answered the knock were in the retired age group, living in well-maintained properties.  

Some, like Mike Willings, were more than happy to engage with Leonard. 

“Deb, you are just everywhere,” Willings said, before Leonard could speak.

Happy to see you

Willings was not the only person who greeted Leonard this way – many people already knew who she was, having seen her campaigning or received a flyer. 

He told Leonard he had donated to her campaign and would vote for her. He pointed to cost of living pressures and the lack of affordable, energy-efficient homes as key concerns.

The current crop of Independent MPs “have done a good job”, Willings said.

Elsewhere, Leonard and her team heard about the concern residents have for others who were struggling to make ends meet.

An issue that popped up more than once related to the local council maintaining the streetscapes and the entrance to the town. Leonard told residents she would advocate for all levels of government.

Think of the cows …

One woman told Leonard she would give her first preference vote to any candidate who promises to oppose the export of live cattle from Australia.

Leonard assured her she would consider all legislation in parliament on what the community wanted her to do. 

“Because I am not a party, I’m here to represent and listen to our community,” Leonard said. “And so many people feel the same way I do, that the parties aren’t representing us and that we need more level headed common sense people in parliament.”