Though the Liberal Party plugs itself as the small business owner's best friend, Mr Ellis said it was the party's inaction on climate change that could eventually send him bust.

"We're in the mountains so our whole livelihood in Jindabyne and Thredbo depends on snow. Personally, climate change and the lack of action is a big issue because if there's no snow, the place ceases to exist," he said.

As the election campaign heated up in the marginal bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro, temperatures were plunging in the tiny alpine community.

While Mr Ellis expected people to call him a "leftie wanker" for his views on the environment, he and other business owners were anxiously looking at the sky two weeks out from opening weekend.

Having been at the snow every winter since 1989, there's no doubt in his mind the season is getting shorter.

"You just look at the snow levels. Whereas before there'd be quite a significant snow base well into October and early November even, now it just hits mid-September and it warms up so quickly. Summer starts around the third week of September so it melts pretty quickly."

The impact on those who make their living in these transient winter communities is devastating.

"We've only got a 16-week window any way calendar-wise, but realistically we've got about 11 weeks, it used to be 12 weeks," Mr Ellis said.

"So even though I'm a small business owner I still don't get sucked in by that Liberal Party 'small business owner's friend' business."

As seasonal workers started arriving for the winter, Mr Ellis said another big-ticket issue for Snowy Mountains communities were penalty rates, but not for the reason you'd think.

"It's totally different here because all of our staff are super-keen snowboarders and skiers, and they all want to have their day off midweek. They don't want to have Saturday or Sunday off because the mountain's crowded so every year without fail they'll want to work weekends," he said.

"The whole argument about spending time with families just doesn't hold any water here in winter because the transient population are here to work for that 16 weeks, go skiing, go snowboarding, have a good time and head off to somewhere else. I can see the other side of it as well but that one I'm sure is a big issue for a lot of business owners down here."

As to who will get his vote on July 2, Mr Ellis is yet to decide.

"I've found it difficult to engage with politics the last three or four years. There's not a lot of inspiration there," he said.

"Australia doesn't seem to have any vision at the moment. Our political class at the moment is fairly mediocre."