On Gamilaroi Country in the state’s north, Moree sits on the Mehi River.
Nearly 22 per cent of the town’s 9000-strong population identifies as Indigenous.
The small town has been in the spotlight recently following a spike in robberies, break-ins and car thefts.
With the nation heading to the polls on May 3, Gomeroi local Tom French believes youth crime will play a part in determining people's voting intentions.
"That's going to have a lot of bearing on the outcome," he told NITV.
He says the lack of opportunities for young people is a driving factor in the area's recent problems. French says that, while local groups are doing their best, politicians must support them.
“We have a lot of organisations here, but their budget's stretched and can only do so much," he said.
"We need funding. We need the funding to be able to provide program for our kids.
"Politicians tell you anything just to get [your] vote ... They can talk the talk, but they can't walk the walk."
Housing is another important issue in the area, with a lack of suitable accommodation often intertwined with instances of youth crime.
In South Moree, paddocks where houses once stood sit empty; some contain the burnt shells of former homes
Gomeroi Elder Lloyd Munro said it's a stark contrast to times past, when there was a thriving community.
“If you’re a little kid coming to school and every day of the week walking around this area, looking at that, what do you expect they want to be, what they want to do?
"They deserve better: better parks, for these houses to be done up, for these houses to be cleaned up."
Just over 200 kilometres away in Walgett, many of the issues are the similar.
A 2023 University of New South Wales report written in partnership with Dharriwaa Elders Group found Walgett's housing stock was ageing, overcrowded, of poor quality and in urgent short supply.
Vanessa Hickey, Community Response Lead at Dharriwaa, said not enough had been done to combat the shortage.
“In 20 years, I know there hasn't been a single home built in Walgett on the government side,” the Gamilaroi woman told NITV.
"There is a shortage of housing, especially for homeless people, Elders, and the younger people," said Dharriwaa Elders Council member Norma Kennedy.
"It's really hard to find somewhere for them to live."
Elder's group providing safe water for locals
For locals watching the election play out on their screens, there is a desire for politicians to visit their town and see the issues firsthand.
Water access and quality also tops the list of issues these voters care about.
The town relies on bore water and water from the Namoi River, but it’s not always safe to use.
The Dharriwaa Elders Group has been providing chilled low sodium drinking water to the whole community. It has already distributed over 20,000 litres.
"It gives us good, safe water to drink," said Rick Townsend.
"You can't just drink from the tap here because there's too much stuff in the chemicals in the water, in the rivers."
Vanessa says residents are also feeling the strain of the rising cost of living.
"If they go and pay their rent, pay their electricity, they've hardly got any money," she said.
“They’re either missing out on buying their fruit and veggies, their meat, milk, just their basic stuff they really need.”
"I got a bag of stuff, I think there were three or four items in it, and it cost me over 40 dollars," said Rick Townsend
