Voters in the division of Paterson are looking out for others doing it tough.
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Many of the residents the Newcastle Herald spoke to on the main street of Raymond Terrace on Tuesday said their vote would be influenced by their concern for for the well-being of other members of their community.
Taxes and job creation were also high on the agenda.
Labor incumbent Meryl Swanson is hoping to hold onto the division for a second term, which extends from Maitland and Neath in the west to Nelson Bay and Boat Harbour in the east.
Ms Swanson won Paterson with a 10.5 per cent swing in 2016 after the retirement of long-time Liberal member Bob Baldwin.
Four of the 15 people the Herald spoke to on Port Stephens Street mentioned their concern for older people receiving government benefits.
Kerrie Manton, 50, of Raymond Terrace said the situation of her mother would mostly likely determine her vote.
"I think what pensioners are living on is way beyond what they should be. I've been watching my mum, she's on the aged pension, and she's doing so hard," Ms Manton said. "The medications and going to the doctor, it all costs."
Gail Brown, who lives on a war veteran's pension, said she was also concerned for people her age.
"I feel sorry for those on a single pension. I just don't know how they exist," the 73-year-old from Medowie said.
"I think we must be paying the dearest energy rate in the world, they're not going to solar or anything. I know people who don't turn they're heater on during winter."
Laborer Mick O'Brien, of Raymond Terrace, expressed a similar opinion.
"For me, looking after families and pensioners is most important," the 46-year-old said. "It would be good to see the energy brought down for renters and house owners."
Brian Kennedy, 80, of Raymond Terrace said he supported Labor for their tax policies.
"I can't see it getting any worse than the mob we have now. It's about time we have a change."
However, Susan Moore, 70, of Lemon Tree Passage said it was only the Liberals she would trust with her money.
"I want a stable economy. I saw what happened last time Labor was in, they just spend, spend, spend. We need to manage the country's budget," she said.
Friends Chantelle Gear, 24, and Toni Waanders, 51, both of Raymond Terrace, said they were happy to support the parties they always vote for. While Sue Cavanett, 65, of Karuah, was making a change, refusing to preference the major parties.
"They're both so childish," she said. "I feel like Clive Palmer says whatever he thinks people want him to say and he has a candidate in this seat. I will be voting for him knowing full well that they won't get in. I am not voting Liberal or Labor."
Margot Quinn, 52 of Medowie, who works in the hairdressing industry and has voted "a little bit of both" in the past, said she felt Labor "deserved" to win government.
"I don't think the Liberals have made as many jobs as they say. It's all contract work and part-time. My husband is in construction and and he can't get permanent work. That affects everything. And the Liberals won't do anything about climate change. The summers seem to go for six months now."
Joshua Riley, 23, said job creation would be the biggest issue driving his vote.
"There's a lot of young people my age who are unemployed," the Raymond Terrace resident said.
Other young voters Joseph Jackson, 19, and Maddey Jones, 21, said policies on climate change and the environment would have the greatest bearing on their decision.
For case manager Jake Gillies, 26, of Kurri Kurri, the issue of the environment is personal. His family has been impacted by the mismanagement of waterways in western NSW.
"I would like to see more policy on Indigenous issues especially our issues back home in Brewarrina, Menindee, Walgett, Wilcannia. Making sure the river has water. In Brewarinna, I have a great aunty who has no access to fresh water," he said. "I would like to see more awareness about Indigenous youth suicide. In any other country that would be considered a pandemic."
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