By Michael Burt
BELLINGEN SHIRE, NSW – Independent candidate Caz Hiese’s strong performance in the Bellingen Shire wasn’t enough to topple Nationals MP Pat Conaghan, who secured a third term as the Member for Cowper.
A strong showing in the Bellingen Shire was not enough for Independent Caz Hiese to unseat Cowper’s sitting Nationals MP Pat Conaghan in the federal election.
Caz Hiese secured almost 80% of the vote at polling booths in Bellingen and Bellingen North, more than 70% in Repton and Thora, 60% in Gleniffer and 54% in Urunga. Her vote was just below 50% in Dorrigo and Raleigh.
Coffs Harbour voters also swung towards the Independent, however Mr Conaghan was returned for a third term thanks to a stronger vote in the Kempsey shire, parts of the Nambucca Shire and larger polling booths in Port Macquarie.
Mr Conaghan ended up with 38.7% of the primary vote, compared to 29.69% for Caz Hiese, and won the seat with 52.4 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote in the tightest contest for the Nationals in the three NSW north coast seats. This result is a 0.6% swing towards the Nationals compared to the 2022 election.
“It’s a privileged position I am in, and I humbled to be here. I will keep fighting against Labor and making sure that we get what we deserve here,” Mr Conaghan said.
Caz Hiese said the close result demonstrated an appetite for change remains and that it’s “just the beginning” for the Independent movement in Cowper.
“While this isn’t the result we hoped for, I’m so proud of the campaign we’ve run. From the beginning, it’s been grounded in respect, listening to the needs and hopes of our communities, and showing that a different way of politics is possible,” Ms Hiese said.
“What this community has built together over the past 8 months is something special. It’s people-powered at its best, engaging in democracy, and taking a stand.”
There were small swings against Labor and the Greens, with candidates Greg Vigors and Wendy Firefly receiving 11.45% and 3.93% of the vote respectively.
One Nation’s Chris Walsh came in fourth with 6.24% followed by Legalise Cannabis Party candidate Megan Mathew with 4.36%. Eighteen-year-old Independent Zeke Daley from Nambucca scored a total of 800 votes.
The Nationals were also returned in the neighbouring seats of Page and Lyne. Longtime Nationals MP Kevin Hogan was a clear winner in Page with just over 60% of the two-candidate preferred vote, as did new Nationals MP Alison Penfold in the Lyne electorate.