ALTHOUGH shoppers at Mandurah Forum weren’t used to the strange sight of foreign minster Julie Bishop and an entourage of camera crews descending on them, it didn’t take long for them to get the hang of the limelight.
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Mandurah voters were more than happy to steal some precious time from the most powerful woman in Australia.
Likewise, commuters at the train station on Tuesday morning wasted no time chewing the ear off shadow infrastructure Anthony Albanese, who was campaigning with Labor’s Matt Keogh.
Our city better get used to the attention, because the campaign for Canning still has weeks to run and both major parties have high stakes riding on the outcome.
For Tony Abbott, his future as prime minister will be determined by the result.
Bill Shorten has the chance to cement his at-times shaky leadership and deal a mortal blow to a first term Liberal leader.
But voters such as Paula Schipke, a pensioner who met the foreign minister at Mandurah Forum on Tuesday, don’t care much for the games of high office.
She just wants someone to tackle crime.
“I’m surprised they’re here,” Mrs Schipke said.
“I just want them to do something about crime because it’s getting worse and worse.
“It’s absolutely frightening; I barely go out anywhere anymore.”
Neither party, however, have put forward a solid answer to Mrs Schipke’s worries.
It’s these local issues that will matter to the voters of Canning, issues that impact their every-day lives.
Judging from the willingness of Mandurah people to have their say, the major parties better turn up with some answers and soon.