Chinese-Australian voters are set to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of one of Sydney’s most marginal seats in this year’s Federal Election.
Labor’s Sally Sitou, who won Reid by a narrow margin of 5.2 per cent, is expected to be closely contested, with both candidates highlighting their diverse backgrounds as an asset in empathising with voters.
Reid covers areas in Sydney’s inner-west, including suburbs such as Burwood, Strathfield, Sydney Olympic Park, Five Dock and Drummoyne.
Nearly a quarter of the electorate’s population are of Chinese ancestry, according to the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
Burwood in particular boasts one of the highest proportions of Chinese residents in the city, while Five Dock is home to a significant Italian community.
Many locals say they welcome a thaw in tensions between Australia and China.
One Burwood resident said she sees positive developments, and believes the government is striving to “compromise and reach a point that benefits both countries”.
“I think it’s good for everyone, for Australia and for China,” she told Sky News.
Sally Sitou was elected as the Member for Reid in 2022 – with Labor winning by a margin of 5.2 per cent.
The mother-of-one worked with vulnerable communities in China and Samoa, before returning to Australia to serve in the university sector.
“I worked in the aid sector and had the privilege of collaborating with elderly Chinese communities in China,” she said.
“I also worked with AusAID in Samoa, where I saw first-hand the positive impact of Australian aid-funding schools that gave children a chance at a better education.”
Mrs Sitou, who spent the past seven days door knocking, says she is also welcoming a more progressive approach when it comes to engaging with voters.
“We want to ensure people are well informed when they head to the ballot box,” she said.
“That’s why we’re on TikTok and all the social media platforms to connect with as many people as possible.”
Her opponent, Liberal candidate Grange Chung, takes a more traditional approach.
“Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer to engage personally with people,” he said.
“I do have a social media presence but I’m particularly focused on getting out and meeting people.”
Born in Sydney to parents from Hong Kong and Malaysia, Mr Chung served in the Australian Defence Force for ten years and became a pilot with Singapore Airlines before returning to Australia to take a senior role in the Navy.
“In the military, you get the chance to lead, you get the chance to be in front of people and to interact with people,” he said.
“And I think those skill sets – that confidence and personal engagement – is helping me enormously doing what I’m doing.”
While both candidates agree that cost of living and housing are major concerns for Australians, Mr Chung believes that infrastructure is the most pressing local issue.
“In Reid, we have two of the busiest train stations in New South Wales – Burwood and Strathfield – and some of the most congested roads in Sydney, like Victoria Road and Parramatta Road,” he said.
“These infrastructure issues – considering we were the sixth biggest destination for immigrants last financial year, is causing a lot of pain for people living here and people coming here.”
The candidates are also focusing on hyper-local issues, such as calls for better public amenities.
“[Burwood Park is] one of the most well utilised and most well-loved parts,” Mrs Sitou said.
“You can see there’s different groups, there’s dancers, ping pong players, kids playing in the playground, and they want to have more of these spaces.”
Burwood Park is bustling on a Monday morning.
At the pavilion, elderly residents practice Tai Chi, and on the other end – Anne Liu and Lucy Xu – are taking advantage of the sheltered open space for dancing and singing lessons.
“I ask for the dancing a little bit bigger and bigger.. so when we have more people dancing, we have enough space to accommodate everybody,” Mrs Xu told Sky News.
“That’s what I asked, so if they put it there, I will vote for them.”
