00:00Twice the size of Tasmania, Leichhardt is a vast and diverse electorate.
00:08Beyond the northern tip of Queensland, it takes in the Torres Strait Islands.
00:13More than half a dozen Aboriginal communities are scattered through the Cape.
00:17On the west coast is the mining town of Weeper.
00:20On the east, the spectacular Daintree Rainforest,
00:24the sugar milling town of Mossman and the beach resorts of Port Douglas.
00:29But the big population base is in the city of Cairns.
00:3280% of Leichhardt's voters live here.
00:39For nearly three decades, their federal member has been the LNP's Warren Ench.
00:44This is him now, with the man hoping to succeed him, former paramedic Jeremy Neal.
00:50We're very, very focused on making sure that taxpayers get value for money.
00:53And with his departure, Labor senses an opportunity.
00:56It's pre-selected former Cairns Taipans basketball player, Matt Smith.
01:01We know that supporting the reef means supporting jobs for far north Queensland.
01:06But it's a crowded race with ten candidates on the ballot paper.
01:10So what is motivating people at the ballot box here in Cairns? Let's find out.
01:16Definitely cost of living, because at the moment my wage pretty much pays my rent and that's about it.
01:22Crime around Cairns is pretty important to us, making sure we feel safe in our own houses.
01:27For me it's healthcare, 100%, and housing in remote Indigenous communities.
01:32Probably sound economic management.
01:35Free or lower HECs.
01:37Protection of our assets, Australian assets, is important, like no foreign ownership.
01:43Everything that Labor's doing is a flaming mess.
01:46What was the thing right at the top of your mind?
01:48Environment, climate change.
01:51For the first time in years I've just completely undecided, you know? Yeah.
01:56Why is that?
01:57Oh, I just, you know, don't want nuclear power and I don't want the guy that tried to get the voice in and the referendum.
02:04You're not impressed by any of them? No, not really.
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