Tax, the cost of living and welfare policies were all areas of concern for the 20 voters interviewed by the Newcastle Herald at Civic and other tram stops on Friday. Health and the environment also figured in people's responses.

While Newcastle is one of the only divisions in the country to have voted in the same party, Labor, since its inception, talk along Hunter Street indicated that many locals felt no group managed to encapsulate their views entirely, given the spread of issues this election.

That was certainly the case for operations manager Mark Knight, 46, of Merewether Heights, and public servant Louise Duncan, 53, of North Lambton, who are both still deciding who to side with.

"Healthcare is the main issue for me, which I haven't heard much about lately," Ms Duncan said. "I guess also early childhood teachers and who isn't interested in tax? I am going to look at ABC Vote Compass. I've heard it's a good tool for identifying which parties you agree with."

This year also looks to bring some more swinging voters into the fold. Good news for Tim Haven.

"Deep down I'm a Labor voter but I vote Liberal to try make it a swinging seat. Nobody's spending any money here because it's safe," the 50-year-old who lives in New Lambton said.

Peter Andruschthak, 47, who works in the electricity sector, usually votes for the same party "all the time". But this election he's not sure.

"All the scandals, all the stuff going on. They all promise everything and don't deliver anything," the Wallsend resident said.

Even so, he's skeptical of minor parties.

"The preferences work out so inadvertently you end up voting for the party you don't want to support."

Bruce Willey, 55, of Waratah, who works in the mines, usually votes Labor but said it was getting "harder and harder" due to their proposals for negative gearing and franking credits.

Taxation was definitely a determining factor for Greg McCosker, 70, and Kim McHugh, 60, of Cooks Hill, who had just attended the pre-polling booth on King Street.

"We worked in financial planning. For 30 odd years we helped clients plan for retirement," Ms McHugh said. "How can people plan for their retirement if they don't know if their money is going to be there tomorrow?"

For pensioner Juliet Verano, 67, of Newcastle East, household finances were also a key concern.

"Cost of living is always the main issue. I don't know which party is going to give us good value for that," she said.

Kelly Hardyman said her standard of living influenced her vote for Labor and Greens candidates. She has been homeless since December.

"I hope something changes. They need a single mum in government who understands."

Among voters in their twenties and thirties, helping the environment and reducing inequality were high on the agenda.

"The environment is the main issue for me because without it we have nothing. The political response has been criminally negligent, that's how I would describe it," Newcastle's Michael Ramsden, 34, said.

Amy Woods, 33, of Newcastle, said "live exports" were her main concern. She will be sharing her preferences between Labor and Greens candidates in the upper and lower houses.

"I would also like to see more social policies that benefit the people, not just the one per cent," she said.

Isabella Santone, 25, of Hamilton, identified similar issues. She and her father Paul Santone, 51, said they also desired "positivity" in politicians' outlooks.

"I'm for political purpose rather than cynical point scoring," Mr Santone said.

Peter Guy, 43, of Shortland, who works in the disability sector, said he would be voting for the party that best looked after the community. He said, however, that some parties' focus on climate change was an "emotional sell".

"Solar power is so cheap now, so that's going to kill coal. Making cement or agriculture, no one really talks about how that contributes to emissions."