The lawyer, and first-time candidate, says she can personally relate to the battle constituents experience when balancing the need to return to work with affordable childcare. She feels the issue will be addressed by the Coalition's policy to scrap the $7500 annual cap on the childcare rebate for families earning up to $185,000.

"I think that's going to make a massive difference to families in how they're actually going to afford childcare for a full year," she says.

When it comes to housing affordability, the Coalition is tackling the issue through more land releases, thanks to changes to the National Capital Plan in west Tuggeranong, she says.

"I don't agree with Labor's negative-gearing reforms whatsoever ... Let's just release more land ... and ensure the property market is something people can enter rather than being cut out of. We're essentially creating greater competition, driving land prices down whilst giving the person who wants to purchase a house a fighting chance to buy one."

Adelan-Langford says many constituents in Canberra's south are concerned about light rail and the rate rises used to fund a project they won't benefit from. She says some voters saw the ACT and federal governments as interchangeable.

"I think there may be a few protest votes against Labor purely because they see it as 'a vote for Labor means my cost of living is going to increase'. Labor's attitude that this is a safe Labor seat is quite arrogant, obviously there is a margin there ... but I really do want to provide a solid alternative to the current member. No one really benefits if the seat is retained wholly and solely by Labor."

While she admits public service jobs cuts have "resonated deeply" with Canberra voters, she says they were instigated by the former Labor government and the ACT's low unemployment rate indicated it was "doing really well".

"Yes, the Liberals had to continue on with those cuts, which is disappointing, but we're not doing too badly and that's creating more growth in the private sector as well. We've just inherited a budget that was in deficit and we have to live within our means."

Adelan-Langford says Canberra's cultural institutions experienced efficiency dividends from all sides of politics for 27 years but is confident Liberal senator Zed Seselja is doing everything he can to protect the institutions and their good work.