With a pork dumpling, green tea cake and a healthy main course of selfies, Scott Morrison sauntered down a sun-drenched Sydney street.
The prime minister picked multicultural Strathfield, in Sydney's inner-west, to mingle with the public for the first time during the election campaign.
"Ni hao," he offered one woman, who politely told him she was Korean.
While his slice of green tea cake was being packed, Mr Morrison nipped out to the kitchen, meeting staff and customers on the way.
After spending his first full day of campaigning in enemy territory, the mission switched to defence in the Liberal-held seat of Reid.
"Without it, I don't think we'll form government," departing MP Craig Laundy said.
The incumbent's departure is expected to hurt the government's chances of holding the seat despite a 4.7 per cent buffer.
Mr Morrison, his wife Jenny, Mr Laundy and Liberal candidate Fiona Martin were followed by a cluster of media as they dipped in and out of mostly Korean businesses.
"The circus has come to town, I'm sorry sweetie," one man in a restaurant told his daughter as Mr Morrison ordered a pork dumpling.
A young woman loudly wondered how long Mr Morrison would remain in his job, a nod to the chaos engulfing Canberra during the past 10 years.
Jerome Rugaruza shook the prime minister's hand to thank Australia for giving him asylum a decade ago after 15 years in refugee camps.
The refugee from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo wants the government to improve settlement services and raise the humanitarian intake for people fleeing their home countries.
"I wish Australia to open the gate and increase the number," Mr Rugaruza told AAP.
He's keeping his voting intention private, but believes unskilled refugees should be paired with farm work to kickstart their lives in Australia.
"The cows don't need English to milk them," he said with a smile.
After walking the streets, the Morrison campaign galloped to Randwick ahead of champion mare Winx's final start.
