Home to some of Australia's largest clusters of Chinese, Greek and Arabic speakers, the New South Wales seat of Barton is one to watch when Australia goes to the polls on September 7.
It's been held by Labor's Robert McClelland since 1996. But with the former Attorney General set to retire, eight new candidates are now vying for his post.
McClelland's departure may have contributed to the apparent erosion to Labor's support in the area. At the 2010 election Labor suffered a swing of more than 8 per cent against. In June this year Roy Morgan polling suggested the Coalition was ahead of Labor on a two- party preferred basis. And in August just .2 of a percent separates them (in favor of Labor).
"What we saw in Barton, like the rest of Australia, is a major swing away from Labor in the latter part of Julia Gillard's leadership," Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levin explained. "It seemed to occur just after the introduction of the carbon tax."
Labor's leadership stoush certainly didn't sit well with several members of Barton's Greek community, chatting over coffee at Earlwood's Euro cafe.
"We had Rudd up there then they removed him and put in Julia. What was the point? Then after Julia they put in Rudd. It's all a game," one said with disdain.
It's a view the ALP's new candidate Steve McMahon understands.
"When I was pre-selected in April the polls were looking dire then," he said. "I was going into a situation where I was looking like I would very much not win the seat. But I'm not going to shy away from a battle."
SBS also tried to contact Barton's Liberal candidate Nickolas Varvaris for comment over the course of a week. A party media adviser eventually called back, requesting we send our questions in advance.
When we refused we were later told Mr Varvaris was "unavailable". No further explanation was given.
