Time And Tax Brings Scott A Different View
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday June 15, 1987
Politics were clearer for Scott McDonald at the last Federal election when he was an apprentice carpenter in Albury.
Together with most of his friends, the 20-year-old cast a vote for the Australian Labor Party.
Two-and-a-half years later Scott is living at Coogee, in the marginal seat of Phillip, and this time he cannot decide where his allegiance lies, for Scott has since entered the world of small business.
Scott and his father, Clive, bought the Bondi Mall Newsagency at Bondi Junction six months ago. And, while he neither cared nor thought about political issues in 1984, Scott is not about to waste his vote now he is a businessman.
Significantly, in this election his vote will carry a great deal more punch. Just a 4.3 per cent swing will oust the ALP sitting member, Mrs Jeannette McHugh. As the candidates for the far-eastern suburb electorate -covering Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly, Randwick, Kensington and Coogee - realise, Scott's vote is a precious one.
The electorate is one based on businessmen like Scott, an area where commercial and retail interests cannot be ignored. Any shift in policy by either the Government or the Opposition, particularly concerning tax, could be just enough to topple the seat.
Scott is the first to agree. For him the issues in this election for a businessman can be summed up in one word. Tax.
When he was an apprentice, and before that a brickie's labourer, political decisions were a darn sight easier to make. Nothing really affected him, he says. No matter who was in power Scott had a set 38-hour week, a set lunch hour, and a set pay packet.
In business, he says, nothing is guaranteed.
A normal working week is now likely to be 72 hours, and Scott is lucky to get out of the shop for lunch. If heavy expenses and bills arrive in a particular week, Scott's take-home pay may be substantially less than usual.
"But in business you have to cop that," he says.
So far, the Hawke Government's tax policies between 1984 and today have troubled him, with numerous "kicks in the belly" including the fringe benefits tax and the capital gains tax. But Scott is equally sceptical about the Liberals' recently released policy.
"I can't deny I am swinging towards the Liberal Party," he said. "I don't like the way they are mucking around, not able to get themselves organised, but Howard is starting to fight back."
Don't think for a moment, though, that Scott has made up his mind. When he last voted, it was Mr Hawke's charm that won.
"He had such charisma, and was a terrific speaker. Hawke was really able to impress the young people."
"I really don't know who I should vote for."
For a 23-year-old in business, voting is not easy. Scott's father, he says, is a staunch Liberal voter and enjoys telling him the virtues of travelling down that road. All his mates, including his carpenter flatmate, though, are Labor voters. Scott says he is stuck in the middle but is prepared to stand alone.
"All I can say is I will vote for the party that gives business the best deal. I can't afford to vote any other way."
© 1987 Sydney Morning Herald