Federal election 2022: updates as Cowper decides

Federal election 2022: Coffs Harbour live updates as Cowper decides. See all the photos and updates in our rolling coverage.

Voters out and about

Thousands of Coffs Coast residents - dare we call us Cowperians - have already marked their ballot papers, but the grand final is today for the federal election.

From the rival and distanced cities of Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie and all points in-between, those who haven’t pre-polled or gone full postal after weeks of campaigning, must head to the booths (because it is compulsory).

In Bellingen, Cub Scouts Ryley Mackay and Rio Dicks, were serving up the democracy sausages while Hank Piper was there to encourage voters to give sitting member Pat Conaghan another term.

Hank Piper at left in support of Pat Conaghan. Picture: Janine Watson

Independent candidate Carolyn ‘Caz’ Heise attended the Anglican Church polling booth, chatting with voters and taking the opportunity to thank her band of volunteers.

Independent candidate for Cowper Caz Heise talking with voters in Bellingen on election day. Picture: Janine Watson

United Australia Party supporter Duncan wouldn’t give his last name but said he had travelled all the way from Sydney to Bellingen to support the party on election day.

Dave Phister and Dominic King on election day. Picture: Janine Watson

Dave Phister was out in support of the Greens who he says are the “most progressive party looking after our environment and protecting our life support system”.

Jacquie Hudson said she was was “super hopeful” that independent Carolyn Heise would take the seat which The Nationals have held almost uninterrupted since 1919.

Jacquie Hudson from Bellingen. Picture: Janine Watson

In the high country out at Upper Orara, Margaret Hoschke didn’t hesitate in identifying the key issue of the election.

“Aged care is top of my list because I need it,” Ms Hoschke said.

Margaret Hoschke after casting her vote at the Upper Orara polling booth. Picture: Chris Knight

At Coffs Harbour, David Hargreaves was beating the drum outside the Cavanbah Centre for independent Caz Heise.

“I’ve been doing the pre-poll for two weeks and last night I was sitting in the rain at a West Coffs public school,” Mr Hargreaves said.

“Quietly confident is the appropriate phrase. But for near on all of the past 100 years it’s been a Nationals seat and it’s a hard nut to crack.”

Supporter for Caz Heise, David Hargreaves, outside the Cavanbah Centre, Coffs Harbour. Picture: Chris Knight

At Coffs Harbour High School, supporters of different stripes enjoyed the banter and the friendship.

Greens campaigner Mark Graham said federal elections were important as they stoked “healthy debate”, while Pauline Hanson’s One Nation supporter Jane Raynor quipped “for a Green, this guy’s lovely”.

Supporters Steve Forkin (Liberal Democrats), Mark Graham (Greens) and Jane Raynor (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) share a laugh outside Coffs Harbour High School. Picture: Chris Knight

Not to be outsung, Liberal Democrats backer Steve Forkin noted of the unlikely gathering: “We all have more in common than we do in differences.

Voters in Cowper were out and about early doing their civic duty. The line at the Senior Citizens Centre polling booth at Macksville snaked all the way out to the footpath in Princess Street.

Nationals and teal independent supporters at the Upper Orara polling booth, Lyn McGuire, Carolyn Fraser, Madge Hair and Nik Rosentool. oPicture: Chris Knight

Raelene Holland was there handing out how-to-vote leaflets for the United Australia Party (UAP). Raelene had travelled from Bowraville and said she’d be there all day.

“I just like to volunteer and you get to know other people,” Ms Holland said.

Candidate supporters Leanne Woods and Raelene Holland outside the Macksville Seniors Citizens polling booth. Picture: Chris Knight

Leanne Woods was campaigning nearby for teal independent Caz Heise, and sidled up to Ms Holland asking why UAP had Ms Heise at No.5 on their flyer.

“Why did you do that - you’re actually voting the Libs back in,” Ms Woods said.

From Bellingen, Ms Woods identified as a close friend of Ms Heise.

Caz Heise, teal independent candidate for the seat of Cowper, casting her vote at Port Macquarie.

“Everything she says she will do, she’ll do,” Ms Woods said.

“Unfortunately there’s been some propaganda down south with posters saying she’s (Ms Heise) a Green.”

At Nambucca Heads Public School, Peter McFadyen and Liz Newberry were supporting Nationals incumbent Pat Conaghan.

Nationals supporters Peter McFadyen and Liz Newberry at the Nambucca Heads Public School polling booth. Picture: Chris Knight

Their reserved approach in offering how-to-vote leaflets won over early voter Daniel Lulhan.

“I actually voted for him because down the other end (the supporters) they were pushy,” Mr Lulhan said.

A woman was injured and treated by paramedics after taking a nasty fall at the busier entrance to the Red School polling booth.

In the nation’s most populous electorate of Cowper we have seven candidates to choose from in the House of Representatives - but the drums from the pundits are predicting a two-horse race between the incumbent Pat Conaghan and independent Kaz Heise.

Daniel Lulhan was one of the first to cast a vote at the Nambucca Heads Public School. Picture: Chris Knight

One-time police prosecutor Mr Conaghan won the seat for the Nationals in 2019, while nurse/health administrator Ms Heise is a so-called teale independent, with her campaign backed by the Climate 200 group.

So will it be Pat in the Hat or Teale Appeal to rule this day?

Also chasing the prize are Faye Aspiotis (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation), Simon Chaseling (Liberal Democrats), Joshua Fairhall (United Australia Party), Keith McMullen (Labor) and Tim Nott (Greens).

Federal election 2022 live: How every seat is falling in NSW

Voting is open at booths across the electorate until 6pm - and we’ll update this story through the day and into the evening as the results roll in.

Coffs Harbour will be a focal point, as both Mr Conaghan and Ms Heise will be in attendance at election night celebrations in the city.

One will be upbeat, and for the other it may be a case of it’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to.

Many votes have already been cast in Cowper - a whopping 43 per cent as at Thursday night which was also the close of postal voting.

Nine per cent of eligible Cowperians had made an application for a postal vote, and it’s expected some 70-80 per cent of these will have been lodged in time to matter.

Thirty-four per cent of us have pre-polled, many at the Coffs International Stadium carpark.

Seems we have taken the advice of gangster Al Capone to vote early (but hopefully not often).

The high level of pre-polls in Cowper may be reflective of a local aged population concerned about Covid and crowds today.

Our electorate is described as “fairly safe” for Mr Conaghan.

At the last election in 2019, he secured 47 per cent of the primary vote. High profile independent and one-time government-maker Rob Oakeshott won just 24 per cent.

After preferences, Mr Conaghan swept to power as a first time MP in the clog footprints of Luke Hartsuyker, with 56.79 per cent. Mr Oakeshott finished on 43.21.

Our journalists will be on the ground throughout the day across the electorate, regularly updating this story. We’ll be talking with voters and later, as the results roll in, with the candidates.

Should the rain keep at bay - and the forecast is not good - local sport will go ahead. Though young soccer players should be spared from a Scott Morrison bulldozer tackle, and an Anthony Albanese brain freeze on whether international borders are open or not.

If a democracy sausage is your go, there will be plenty to go around at the polling booths. Fair chance you’ll even get a vegan one at Bellingen, and for the carnivores, slip into the town’s 2022 show and grab a Dagwood Dog delish on a stick.

Batter up, it’s game on.