Federal election 2022: Seven to contest seat of Cowper

Candidates for the local federal seat of Cowper are locked and loaded as the nation prepares to go to the polls. What you need to know.

Voters in the local seat of Cowper - the most populous in the land - will be spoiled for choice at the federal election on May 21.

The public ballot draw was held at Port Macquarie on Friday, and seven names will be in the hat for Cowper in the House of Representatives decision.

As well as the six earlier profiled in our local guide to the poll, the Liberal Democrats will also have a starter.

Simon Chaseling, whose occupation is listed as builder on the Australian Electoral Commission site, will stand for the Liberal Democrats and is a first-time political candidate.

According to his profile on the party website, Mr Chaseling and his wife Amanda have four young children and live on a rural property in the Coffs Harbour region.

Simon Chaseling will be the Liberal Democrats candidate for the seat of Cowper.

Mr Chaseling has been “deeply troubled by the gross government overreach and destruction of careers and livelihoods, and the push to dismantle the core principles of our society such as informed consent, medical privacy, and the right to work and provide for our families”.

Education is another pinchpoint for the Liberal Democrat.

“As parents Simon and Amanda have also been very concerned about the seeming destruction of the local school system through the far left wing indoctrination of children, and the teacher shortages caused by the arbitrary sacking of thousands of hard working and dedicated teachers, stripped of their right to informed consent and medical privacy,” according to the party website.

The Nationals Pat Conaghan celebrates his election win in 2019. He is seen here with his wife Ilona and supporters. Photo Frank Redward

Mr Chaseling is joined the ballot paper by incumbent MP Pat Conaghan (The Nationals), Faye Aspiotis (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation), Joshua Fairhall (United Australia Party), Carolyn ‘Caz’ Heise (independent), Keith McMullen (Labor) and Tim Nott (Greens).

Ms Aspiotis has secured the coveted No.1 position on the ballot paper, and Mr Conaghan is at No.3

Local voters will also make their choices for the NSW Senate - and there are 23 groups on the paper.

Those running tickets for the Senate include Sustainable Australia Party - Stop Overdevelopment/Corruption; Reason Australia; Federal ICAC Now; Indigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia; Informed Medical Options Party; The Great Australian Party; FUSION: Science, Pirate, Secular, Climate Emergency; and the Australian Values Party.