Election 2022: Pat Conaghan wins Cowper seat over independent Caz Heise

An arduous three-day wait for Cowper has come to an end as independent Caz Heise concedes and Pat Conaghan takes a second term. See what they had to say:

The Nationals officially announced they will retain the seat of Cowper after an arduous three-day wait when independent Caz Heise officially conceded on Tuesday afternoon.

“It is time for me to call the seat of Cowper as a Nationals’ retain,” Mr Conaghan said.

The Nationals have held the seat in Cowper since 1963.

Pat Conaghan with supporters at The Pier Hotel on election night. Picture: supplied

“I am humbled to be given a second opportunity to represent the people of Cowper,” he said.

Mr Conaghan said he listened to his community and aims to echo their feelings for the region.

He was elected at the 2019 federal election following the retirement of Luke Hartsuyker who represented the electorate for 17 years.

“I have listened to views from all sides. I will be taking those views and using them to form decisions for the electorate moving forward,” Mr Conaghan said.

He thanked and congratulated other candidates for representing the “community at heart”.

Pat Conaghan with his wife Ilona on election night. Picture: supplied

Mr Conaghan was born in Kempsey in 1971 – the youngest of five children and the son of a local doctor. He went on to enter the police force and study law. He was a NSW Police Prosecutor from 1997 to 2001 and a solicitor from 2001 to 2019.

“I do not take the privilege of representing the best region in Australia lightly,” Mr Conaghan said.

He said he is proud to represent the district in the federal parliament.

“I will continue to fight for a fair-go for Cowper.”

Mr Conaghan told Coffs Coast Advocate last month he would “go to bat for housing in our region, like the recent Bellingen and Kempsey examples, particularly for the more vulnerable in our community.”

Ms Heise said she always accepted that beating Mr Conaghan would be no easy task given his hold on Cowper of more than 11 per cent.

“I am extremely heartened by the movement we have created in our region,” Ms Heise said.

Ms Heise said she is relieved to see the values of Cowper being more closely aligned by the new Australian government.

Carolyn 'Caz' Heise narrowly lost for the seat of Cowper at the 2022 federal election.

“We have a new Prime Minister committed to supporting the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart, a federal ICAC, aged care residents and workers being treated with dignity and respect, the Biloela family returned to their community and real action on climate change,” Ms Heise said.

Ms Heise said she has unfinished business and plans to continue to be a vocal advocate for the community.

“The Voices 4 Cowper will be back in three years and I intend to put my name forward to enter the preselection process again,”

The strong support for the independent seat is something Mr Conaghan may be eyeing over the next few years as a potential shift in thinking may be occurring.