But depending on whom you ask, these are not the issues that should be at the forefront of Christians’ minds as they head to the polling booths on Saturday.

The NSW Council of Churches has “urged voters to be aware of so-called forgotten issues and to consider the moral implications of party policies as they go to the polls.”

Dr Ross Clifford, President of the Council, said in a statement, “The policy platform of each political party, as well as the policy priorities of each candidate, involves ethical issues with moral implications for this State and its communities.”

Referencing issues like the redefinition of marriage and gambling reform, Dr Clifford said, “Some of the most significant and far-reaching issues have received very little media coverage.”

Mark Makowiecki, the new NSW state director of the Australian Christian Lobby says “people are trying to educate and house their children and get on with life.”

This is why, at recent ACL-supported events, the most common questions asked by Christians have been about same-sex marriage, the Safe Schools Coalition, euthanasia, abortion and problem gambling.

Few, if any questions have been asked about electricity privatisation, domestic violence and housing affordability.

“People have to think about the economy,” says Makowiecki, “but also about whether or not NSW will be a place they want to live in. They need to look for a government that will support families and make communities stronger.”

It’s not as simple as voting a Christian into power. “It’s more important that we know our local member, and their stance especially on conscience issues,” says Makowiecki.

“Christians must be informed. They can’t look at a single issue, they have to weigh up the entire party and prioritise the issues.”

On how to prioritise the issues, Makowiecki says, “human dignity has to come first. Men and women are made in the image and likeness of God and we have to have laws that reflect that fact.

“Humans are made for community. [Community] is not self-centred, not individualistic. We must ask ourselves, ‘is [a vote for this or that party] for the common good, not is it for our hip pocket?’ ”

In the lead up to the federal election of 2013, Jarrod McKenna, national director of Common Grace, wrote this piece for WA today. He gave this helpful advice: “use your vote for the poor, the vulnerable, the marginalised and the common good.”

Image: Keith Ivey on Flickr, used under CC License.