Pub test: meet the voters on our 2022 federal election panel for the New England

But the Northern Daily Leader is keen to also bring our readers the questions, observations and opinions of local voters as they consider the candidates and compare their policies in the countdown to polling day, on Saturday May 21.

So, today we introduce our Pub Test panel - a small cross-section of our community that we have assembled to give us their thoughts on the election campaign as it unfolds.

The pub test, of course, is that uniquely Australian term used to describe the general opinion of 'everyday' Australians, especially when it comes to current events, politicians, or policies.

Each week, we'll ask our Pub Test panel to share their views on the events and issues that emerge through the campaign as Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese make their case to the Australian people.

And, as we always do, we encourage you to join the conversation. Tell us what you think by in a Letter to the Editor.

So without further ado, let's meet our Pub Test lineup:

Bryson Shepherdson, plant mechanic, 25

Less than one week into the official election campaign and Bryson is already sick of the political games and finger pointing. He wants to see genuine discussion around policies and hear why they will benefit Australians going forward, so he can make an informed decision about who to vote for.

"I would really like the election campaigns to consist more of policy pushing and more in depth conversations surrounding how they will work and what the goal is for the policy etc," he said.

"Less about fact and figure checking and asking who knows what the unemployment rate is and what the highest polling minister from 2001 was.

"Give us things to poll you on instead of spending entire pressers dodging questions or even worse, answering questions with more questions."

He is also concerned all the policies that are being spoken about seem to involve spending huge amounts of money, and it feels to him as if Labor is almost trying to one-up the Coalition in terms of spending on every front.

He doesn't have an issue with governments spending money, but he said they better be certain the nation will see a return on that investment, and that's hard to do given global uncertainty due to COVID and the conflict in Ukraine.

Locally, Bryson is concerned about law and order, with crime and repeat offenders being a hot topic recently. He said something needs to be done about the judicial system, particularly for juveniles, so it's not stuck in a cycle of taking them in then releasing them "like sport fish".

Dwone Jones, business owner, 55

Originally from the USA, Dwone now considers Tamworth to be his home, even though his husband and pets are currently back in the US.

Like Bryson he has already grown sick of the 'gotcha' moments and wants to see some talk around major issues, one of which is the skills shortage affecting regional Australia.

"I would like to see our immigration program used to help plug the skills shortages we experience in regional areas," he said.

"The Tamworth region is growing, but we need further investment in infrastructure to keep up.

"To continue attracting people from the cities, we need expanded health services in Tamworth."

Water security is another major concern, as he's aware the current wet period won't last forever. He also believes whomever is in charge needs to take stronger action on climate change.

"I would like to see more investment in green energy so we can contribute our fair share towards reducing emissions," he said.

Another big picture item he wants to see addressed is tension in the South Pacific.

"I would like to see a more strategic focus on Australia's network of international relations that shores up our geopolitical standing in the Asia Pacific and reduces threats to our security," he said.

Despite being a Christian, he did not name religious freedoms among his top priorities.

Kate Hoffman, art gallery owner, 42

Here we start to see a theme emerging, Kate - a local of 20 years - also named water security, addressing climate change and fixing the skills shortage among her top priorities.

On top of that, she said education reform is needed in order the make the nation better for young people.

"I want to see an ambitious plan for a swift and successful conversion to renewable energy sources, a renewal of the Australian manufacturing industry, a well resourced and accessible education system," she said.

"Right across the spectrum, from public school through to universities, and a properly funded public health sector.

"I want our children to inherit an Australia that is innovative, full of opportunities and ecologically responsible."

Having a thriving arts, culture and entertainment sector is a huge part of that too, she said, and moving forward she would like to see it gaining more attention from the country's leaders.

Like both Bryson and Dwone, she is keen to see the back of petty political bickering.

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Nicole Schafer, teacher, 47

How Australia is going to pay back its COVID debt is a major concern of Nicole's, and she believes the government has to be particularly careful with how it spends money in the near future.

But one thing she does want to see funds invested into is efforts to improve sustainability and battle climate change, as she doesn't want to see the next generation have to deal with the consequences of not acting strongly enough now.

Water security and aged care are other issues she thinks need to be addressed, while she finally wants someone to "take responsibility for the French submarine debacle".

Big investment in the New England region is a must, she said, although she did raise question marks about the Dungowan Dam project.

"Dungowan Dam is a short term fix, however if a hydro-electricity scheme is also added it may be acceptable. The cost is astronomically high," she said.

Like Dwone and Kate, she is also worried about this skills shortage in regional Australia.

Cathy Trindall, educator, 60, Gomeroi woman

A lack of housing, particularly in regional areas, which is contributing to a sharp increase in homelessness rates, is one of the things Cathy is particularly concerned about.

She also said country hospitals are under resourced, and a clear long term plan to attract doctors to the bush must be included in health care policies.

As a Gomeroi woman, she has a focus on Indigenous issues, one of which is the high rate of suicide amongst the First Nations community.

"We are the smallest in population numbers, but we have the highest rates of male youth suicide in the world, the highest incarceration per capita, highest unemployment rates and are dying 10 to 20 years earlier than mainstream Australians," she said.

"The list goes on, Australia has breached the UN Human Rights Charter for our people on way too many occasions and have never acknowledged, recognised or formally accepted the breaches against the Human Rights of Aboriginal Peoples."

In terms of what she wants to see from politicians throughout the campaign, she said they have too often said they were listening, but never actually heard what the problems are. Cathy had a message for other voters too, which is to actually vote for what you believe in.

"[I want] Truth, honesty and integrity, which are hard qualities to find in politicians," she said.

"No more promises, no more rhetoric. People generally vote inter-generationally, it's a good old Australian tradition, rather than what is right for our country."

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