With New South Wales' state election just one week away, candidates - many from culturally diverse backgrounds - are intensifying their campaigns.
Raman Bhalla and Jihad Dib are among a growing number of migrant-background candidates running in the New South Wales election.
Both men were born overseas: Mr Bhalla from Bangladesh and Mr Dib from Lebanon, and they represent community groups that make up a large proportion of their electorates in Sydney's west.
SEAT OF BLACKTOWN
Mr Bhalla came to Australia from India in 2000. An accountant by trade, he says the economy is weighing on voters' minds.
“If you look around this electorate, these are mostly small businesses. These businesses don't want to pay higher taxes. Rather they will employ someone, increase the payroll, rather than paying taxes, that's what the Labor policy is" says Mr Bhalla.
The sitting MP for the seat, John Robertson, says public transport is a major issue.
He stepped down as leader of the state Labor Party after admitting he'd signed a letter requesting the Sydney siege gunman, Man Haron Monis, be allowed supervised vists with his children while subject to an AVO.
But he says voters understand he was just acting on behalf of a constituent.
"I think when you go to parliament it's a very daunting task and I think they want someone who they know is experienced, that they can have confidence is able to advocate on their behalf" says Mr Robertson.
SEAT OF LAKEMBA
Former principal of Punchbowl High School, Jihad Dib, says that includes the federal government's plans to deregulate higher education fees.
The senate refused to pass that bill last week. Mr Dib says higher education reforms need to be addressed with caution.
He says students from disadvantaged backgrounds need special attention.
"We got so many great kids, so many great programs, but some of these programs are getting cut. And you know I think that's a dangerous thing. Once we start cutting programs well then what we're basically doing is we're saying to people who are already disengaged, well we're shunning you. And you know we're opening up the doors for all sorts of other people to pray upon them" says Mr Dib.
The Lebanese community is the largest migrant group in the electorate. One of the fastest-growing is the Bangladeshi community.
Liberal candidate, Rashid Bhuiyan, says locals want better health services to care for big families.
"The Government is fully committed to improve the nursing and aged care facilities around the area. The first generation is working very hard to establish their future generation and obviously there are a lot of Bangladeshi families" says Mr Bhuiyan.
Both candidates are Muslim and born overseas, a first for the electorate of Lakemba.
RACE TO THE POLLS
The region was once considered Labor heartland, but in recent years has transformed into contested political territory.
At the last state election, tens of thousands of people switched their vote allowing the Coalition to snatch ten western Sydney seats from Labor.
Latest opinion polls show the Coalition leading Labor - but Mr Baird's record majority in the state's lower house appears under threat.
There are 11 Liberal-held seats held by a margin of less than 6 per cent.
Pundits inside both parties estimate that Labor could pick up anywhere between 9 and 17 seats, many of those in western Sydney.
That could dramatically reduce the Coalition's historic 69 seats in the 93-seat lower house.
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