Election 2025: Lyne candidates and what they stand for
With the federal election set for May 3, we profile the candidates vying for the seat of Lyne on the NSW Mid-North Coast.
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The electorate of Lyne stretches from just south of Port Macquarie down to Hawks Nest and takes in towns such as Taree, Forster, Wingham, Gloucester and Wauchope.
It is considered a safe Nationals seat.
Sitting Nationals candidate Dr David Gillespie is retiring after representing the electorate since 2013 while three local councillors – Digby Wilson and Jeremy Miller from MidCoast Council and Mark Hornshaw from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council – are hoping to make their mark in federal politics.
We asked all candidates the same three questions and here are their responses appearing in alphabetical order:
Tom Ferrier – The Greens
I live in the Lorne valley on a rural property with my partner Jane. For most of my working life, I have taught environmental science at secondary and tertiary levels.
I am an active member of Landcare and Climate Change Australia, I volunteer at 2BOB Community radio in Taree and I’m a keen gardener and lifelong surfer.
What inspired you to run for the seat?
The protection of the natural environment is one of my highest priorities. I believe the Greens have the most effective policies for tackling the climate crisis, protecting endangered wildlife and vital resources such as forests and water catchments.
The Greens also have the most progressive and equitable social policies on housing, cost of living and health.
What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?
The biggest issues are housing, health, cost of living and environmental protection.
Lyne residents experience mortgage and rental stress, so the Greens will cap rent hikes, bring down mortgage payments, and phase out unfair negative gearing and capital gains discounts on more than one property.
The Greens aim to have Medicare cover both dental and mental health care, free GP visits, and build more government-owned aged care facilities.
The Greens will ease the cost of living by wiping HECS debts, having free TAFE and uni, raising Centrelink payments, providing free child care, and lowering energy bills by rolling out subsidised solar power generation. The Greens will end native forest logging, push for environmental law reform, and end coal and gas mining and huge subsidies to fossil fuel companies.
What is your top three wishlist for the electorate?
My first wish is that as a basic human right, all Lyne residents have affordable housing, whether that means paying fair rents or mortgage repayments, or by getting out of homelessness.
My second wish is to end public and private native forest logging, and implement the Greens transition package for timber workers.
My third wish is to tackle the cost of healthcare by including dental and mental health care in Medicare, making GP visits free and fully funding the NDIS.
The Greens will raise $514bn by ensuring big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share of tax, and by ending huge subsidies to fossil fuel corporations. All Greens policies have been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Mark Hornshaw – Libertarian
Mark Hornshaw is a Port Macquarie councillor for the Libertarian Party. He is an economist with 15 years university teaching experience in economics, management and entrepreneurship.
He has also served as president of a State Sporting Organisation, board member of an overseas aid charity, and federal policy chair for the Libertarian Party.
What inspired you to run for the seat?
Lyne residents want to enjoy our beautiful surroundings in peace, and keep Canberra bureaucrats out of our lives and pockets. We are sick of bring taxed to death by Canberra then begging for scraps in return, or trusting in politicians to save us. We want real grassroots community built on prosperity, family and freedom.
What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?
Real incomes have been set back to 2011 levels, meaning housing, groceries, electricity and fuel are becoming unaffordable for families in Lyne, with nothing left for holidays and fun.
The Libertarian Party will raise the tax-free threshold to $50,000 for singles, or $100,000 combined for couples, with a flat 10 per cent tax above that.
We want less for Canberra, more for your family. We will exit the Paris climate accords and abolish all renewable energy targets, and eliminate fuel excise and the “ute tax” completely. We will drastically cut immigration numbers and restrict welfare to citizen only, requiring 10 years of contribution to Australia before qualifying.
What is your top three wishlist for the electorate?
Libertarians have a vision for prosperity, family and freedom.
We want to see a thriving local community where people have the resources to make ends meet, and the ability to afford the Australian dream of home ownership with a backyard for the kids to play in.
We want to empower families to pursue their own goals, with as little interference as possible from politicians and bureaucrats. And we want a connected and caring society where people help each other at the grassroots level.
Keys Manley, Legalise Cannabis Party
What inspired you to run for the seat?
In 2017, I was diagnosed with a genetic mutation predisposing to cancer and told there was nothing I could do.
I was taken to Nimbin and treated by the hemp embassy for the next three years and in this time I learnt a lot about cannabis, the hemp industry and the values it may unlock for our rural communities. Seven years later I’m polyp free and campaigning for a better future for our community.
What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?
Affordable housing, freeing up the cannabis industry and investing in the hemp infrastructure will make cheaper more affordable homes. Hempcrete and hemp insulation provide superior thermal insulation, helping to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures year-round and reducing energy costs.
Legalising cannabis will bring down the cost of living for over 700,000 Australians using medical cannabis, and bring more taxes in to fix our roads and support our health care systems.
Rural industry and jobs is a big problem. We need to create jobs for our farmers and local communities. Opening the doors to the cannabis industry would do this, by removing the heavy licensing fees and outrageous compliances.
What is your top three wishlist for the electorate?
To see the cost of living come down.
See more money invested in our healthcare systems.
The legalisation of cannabis, opening the industry to support our rural farmers, create jobs and bring in more revenue to support what’s important in Lyne.
Jeremy Miller – Independent
I’m a local business owner and councillor who’s spent nearly 30 years rolling up my sleeves to get things done for our community – from running the Manning Entertainment Centre to starting local hospitality businesses that employ local people.
Since arriving in the region in ‘95 with everything I owned stuffed in my Honda Civic, I’ve been bringing people together to tackle challenges and make our region better.
What inspired you to run for the seat?
I was inspired by the community independent movement that I saw in places like Indi in regional Victoria. I saw how they were returning to proper grassroots democracy where the local community gets a real voice in the policies and legislation that their independent MP supports.
There is clear evidence that it works, you just have to look at how much Indi has been able to achieve and I think our community deserves the same. We’re smart, practical people and we know what is going to work for our community. It inspires me to see that we can make a real positive change together.
What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?
The biggest issues in this election for the region are the rising cost of living, healthcare accessibility, and the need for better local infrastructure.
Affordable housing for future generations is a priority, with a focus on standing up to large corporations to protect the interests of local families. Health care also plays a central role, with promises to end the bulk-billing desert and ensure full funding for local medical centres to provide accessible healthcare when it’s needed most.
The region’s natural environment and local resources must be preserved while creating job opportunities in sustainable industries to support the local economy.
Additionally, improving roads, services, and mobile reception is crucial to bridging the gap between the region and more developed areas, ensuring better access and opportunities for all residents.
What is your top three wishlist for the electorate?
I would fight to “keep the government honest” with stronger corruption safeguards, whistleblower protections and donation transparency. I would shine a light on corporate influence. Politicians should serve people, not parties or corporations.
Additionally, improving our infrastructure as regional communities like Lyne are missing out on their fair share of federal investment. Services, roads and mobile reception is crucial to bridging the gap between the region and more developed areas, ensuring better access and opportunities for all residents.
Alison Penfold – The Nationals
I grew up in Harrington and Hannam Vale, attending St Clare’s High School in Taree. My parents taught me the importance of contributing to our community through their work in retail and farming, values I carry with me today.
My career spans advising government ministers, working in small business, representing industry, and holding senior corporate roles. As chief executive officer of the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, I learned the importance of standing up for our primary industries and way of life – qualities I will bring as your local member.
What inspired you to run for the seat?
My parents raised me in this region and through their small business and farming enterprise instilled in me a belief in hard work and contributing to the community.
I know and love this area and want to use the skills and experience I’ve gained throughout my working life in politics, corporate affairs and private enterprise to represent, support and work for local families, communities, businesses and industries.
What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?
Our living standards are going backwards and people are having to make choices they should not have to make. Businesses are weighed down with regulation and higher costs and many are struggling to find workers. The Albanese Labor Government has put us on a trajectory making Australia poorer and weaker.
Lyne locals are feeling the pain acutely. We need the Coalition Government’s strong economic management and Australia-first leadership to ensure a better deal for regional areas such as Lyne and a secure, safer and more prosperous nation for us all.
What is your top three wishlist for the electorate?
Many factors impact the quality of life for locals and prosperity of the region, but first and foremost, better social infrastructure such as good access to health and aged care services, improved mobile and internet coverage, and affordable housing is vital for our local communities.
We must also significantly invest in our local road network to help keep local drivers safe, support our businesses which rely on local roads to get their products to market, and keep our emergency services operating during natural disasters.
More broadly, it is vital that we have a strong economy supported by reliable and affordable energy to power our industries, businesses and households – because prosperous local businesses create well-paid jobs for locals.
Digby Wilson – The Labor Party
From humble beginnings, Digby Wilson built a 35-year career in telecommunications, advancing from technician and engineer to a leader in technology and management, with expertise in fiscal management, team leadership, crisis response and delivering accountable results.
He has strategically dedicated his career to supporting people and strengthening communities. Digby currently serves as a volunteer and councillor at MidCoast Council.
What inspired you to run for the seat?
I’m driven to run for this seat because I am passionate about our region. I want to actively strengthen our communities, ensuring they thrive.
The federal government has a duty to deliver for us, and I’m here to make that happen.
What do you see as the biggest issues for this election and how do they apply to the region?
The biggest issues for this election are the rising cost of living and health care, and aged care, education, and the environment – all deeply impacting the region.
Affordable health care and aged care are urgent concerns, with people needing accessible doctors and reliable urgent care.
Education matters greatly, as families want top opportunities for their kids across primary, secondary, TAFE or university.
Finally, locals fear worsening climate extremes and unusual weather patterns affecting the region.
What is your top three wishlist for the electorate?
Three areas the electorate would benefit from are more cost-of-living support, better health outcomes and improved education access.
With global inflation hitting hard, Lyne residents need relief to afford essentials without destabilising the economy – which is why tax cuts help.
We need a healthcare system where doctor visits and medications are affordable, accessible and hospitals can handle emergencies if needed.
Fully funding NSW public schools to the Gonski standard ensures every kid gets a fair go, while also supporting trades, nursing and doctor training. These aren’t luxuries; they’re essentials for affordable, thriving lives.
Stephen Burke from the Australian Citizens Party; Cathy Charsley from the Trumpets of the Patriot party and Colin Hughes from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation were either non-contactable or did not respond.
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