Three years ago, China was at the forefront of the Australian general election with Labor contender Kevin Rudd wowing local Chinese Australians and impressing outside observers by sometimes electioneering in fluent Putonghua.
It didn't hurt either that his daughter Jessica was married to Hong Kong-born Albert Tse. The young couple joined Rudd on the campaign trail, and focused their efforts on the Sydney electorate of Bennelong, held by the long-standing conservative prime minister John Howard.
The newlyweds campaigned hard, notably at a joint appearance at the Eastwood Chinese Senior Citizens Club, where Jessica Rudd gave a speech in Putonghua, and Tse spoke in his native Cantonese.
Team Rudd's affinity with China, China-related foreign policy, Chinese language and Chinese-Australian voters was a clear theme of the national campaign.
Fast-forward to 2010, and things are very different in Bennelong, now held by Labor's Maxine McKew.
Hugh Lee, president of the Eastwood Chinese Senior Citizens Club, says he will base his voting decision in today's general election on the merits of his local candidate rather than the merits of the federal parties and their foreign policies.