Jun Feng has lived in western Sydney for over 25 years, and as her children have grown up, she's noticed some changes.
"When the children were young, there was no problem, now they are getting jobs, but still can't own a house. Even uni is expensive at the moment," she told SBS News.
Since moving from China in the 90s she has seen Australia get slowly more expensive, and as a single mother, it's been hard for her in retirement.
Feng, who says she's "nearly 70", shares her small two-bedroom home with her 32-year-old son.
LISTEN TO
Cost of Living Secrets: How to ask for a pay rise
SBS News
22:29
Feng attended an SBS-hosted political forum in the western Sydney suburb of Parramatta on Thursday. It connected candidates from the electorates of Parramatta, Fowler, Reid and Blaxland with voters.
While most people indicated was their main priority this election — by placing a sticker next to a board listing policy issues — Feng was one of the few who placed a sticker next to housing.
She thinks the main issue for this election is housing affordability for young people, and she will vote for the candidate she thinks will improve the lives of her son and daughter.
"It's a big problem, he [her son] wants to move out, but the money is not enough. He's thinking maybe after one year he can get more money."
Feng is an undecided voter this election, but voted Labor in 2022.
Her local electorate of Fowler is one of the most diverse in the country. In the 2021 Census, at least 19 per cent of residents identified as having Vietnamese heritage, and another 14 per cent or more were from a Chinese background.
Major party MPs 'better placed', candidate says
Fowler has been a historically safe Labor seat, but saw an upset in 2022, when independent candidate , who was Labor's pick.
Keneally had been parachuted into the electorate despite not living in the area or having connections with the community. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has acknowledged Labor made a mistake in choosing her as its candidate.
The party's pick for this election is Tu Le, who works at a community legal centre and lives locally.
Tu Le is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees and worked for Fowler's former MP Chris Hayes. Source: SBS News / Cameron Carr
When asked if Labor had learnt its lesson in picking Keneally over her, Tu Le told SBS News at the forum she understands the "struggles the community is facing".
"I'm a local, I'm a mum ... and I'm very much focused on this upcoming election to make sure that we do elect someone who will be in government — to actually be able to deliver for the community of Fowler."
The Labor candidate said a major party MP is better placed to advocate directly with ministers and the prime minister on behalf of their community.
"I think that's a key difference between someone in government and someone who's on the sidelines."
To win Fowler, Tu Le will need to sway voters towards Labor and away from voting independent, which won't be easy given Dai Le's popularity.
Dai Le achieved a massive 29 per cent swing and won the electorate with 51.6 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote in 2022. But the seat is marginal — it's held with just a 1.1 per cent majority.
Voters undecided
Almost half of Australia's 18 million registered voters are expected to vote before the 3 May election, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.
But Marlene Eziuzor is one voter yet to make up her mind. She told SBS News she has felt overlooked by politicians for decades.
She lives in social housing and would like to see a party that can help people with disability buy a home.
Marlene Eziuzor has scarring on her lung which can restrict her ability to work. Source: SBS News / Cameron Carr
"It'd be good if there's a parliament that can actually help people that are on disability [payments] to own their own homes."
While she hasn't made up her mind yet, she is leaning towards supporting Opposition leader Peter Dutton.
Voters are moving away from the major parties
Convincing voters to support a major party could prove difficult work for Labor and the Coalition.
Almost a third of voters cast their ballot for minor parties or independent candidates at the last federal election, the highest number in almost 100 years.
Shaun Ratcliff, a political scientist from research firm Accent Research, said voters are , with support for a majority government "really weak".
This could result in more people turning towards the Greens and independents this election, Ratcliff said.
"Only 56 per cent of voters actually think that a majority Labor or Coalition government is better for Australia than some other alternative," he told the National Press Club on Tuesday.
Minority voices
But William Seung, the chair of Korean Australian Community Support, said some minority groups would be leaning towards supporting a major party.
"Minority voices are sometimes ignored. Many in the Korean community are supporting the big parties. Supporting Labor, or some of them supporting Liberals," he told SBS News.
One of the main concerns for the Korean community in and around Fowler is having a safe space to come together.
Korean community leader William Seung said minority groups value having a safe space to come together and keep culture thriving. Source: SBS News / Cameron Carr
"We need a more upgraded community hall, and for the security systems to be upgraded," he said.
"They need their community hall for elderly people, for their children, and for keeping Korean culture."
Visit the to access articles, podcasts and videos from SBS News, NITV and our teams covering more than 60 languages.
