Who are the candidates (so far) in this year's federal election across the Mid North Coast?
Our guide to the upcoming federal election, including who is running in each electorate on the Mid North Coast. Check out the list of current representatives and candidates hoping for seats in Cowper, Page and Lyne divisions.
Ellie Chamberlain
March 13, 2025
Last updated: March 31
Table of Contents
With major parties and Independents spruiking promises ahead of this year’s federal election, we thought now would be a good chance to highlight the major players across the Mid North Coast.
We’ve included a short bio, top priorities and links to other resources so you can find out more about what each person stands for.
Read the full coverage below, or click on the table of contents above for those running for the seat where you live. We’ve included a map and description for each division on the Mid North Coast –Cowper, Lyne and Page.
We’ll endeavour to continue to update this as new candidates announce their campaigns.
When will the next federal election be held?
This year’s federal election will be held on May 3.
It’s not long before voting day so it’s time to get to know those running to represent your electorates as Members of Parliament (MPs).
Who can you vote for?
Cowper
Cowper covers an area of 7,296 square kilometres from Port Macquarie in the south to Coffs Harbour in the north. It includes;
Kempsey Shire Council
Bellingen Shire Council
Nambucca Valley Council
part of the Coffs Harbour City Council
part of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
The main towns include Bellingen, Bowraville, Coffs Harbour, Crescent Head, Dorrigo, Gladstone, Hat Head, Kempsey, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Sawtell, South West Rocks, Port Macquarie and Urunga.
The National Party – Pat Conaghan
The Nationals Pat Conaghan was first elected as the member for Cowper in 2019.
He was re-elected in 2022 when the Nationals managed to hold on despite a 7.6 per cent swing against him on first preference vote. After preferences were distributed Conaghan won narrowly, with a 52.3 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote.
Conaghan is Shadow Minister for Social Services and Assistant Shadow Minister for Family Violence in the House of Representatives.
The Nationals Pat Conaghan has been the federal member for Cowper since 2019. Picture supplied.
Conaghan grew up in Kempsey. Prior to politics, Conaghan worked as a police officer, police prosecutor and solicitor.
Conaghan told The Mid North Coaster his top priorities, if re-elected, is to get the local economy back on track – from putting downward pressure on inflation to providing small business supports and removing red tape and government overreach.
He also wants to focus on provided needed infrastructure, and improving access to the care industry, from childcare to aged care, health care to the NDIS and Veteran support.
➡️ Click here to find out how Conaghan has voted on issues as an MP
➡️ Click here to find out what The National Party stands for
➡️ Click here to view Conaghan’s website
➡️ Click here to view Conaghan’s Facebook page.
Independent – Caz Heise
Caz Heise was selected as the Independent candidate for Cowper by volunteer-run community group Voices4Cowper in 2024.
Heise was endorsed by the same group as the Independent candidate in the previous federal election, when she came close to taking the seat of Cowper from Conaghan. After preferences were distributed Heise won 47.7 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote.
Independent candidate for Cowper, Caz Heise. Picture supplied.
Heise has led healthcare teams in Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, and told the Mid North Coaster she is focused on fixing the care industry with better funding for hospitals, aged care, and mental health services.
Heise is also committed to tackling the housing crisis by increasing affordable housing and supporting local apprenticeships; ensuring reliable, fast internet and eliminating mobile blackspots across the region and putting an end to corporate handouts.
"If you're passionate about fixing the local health system, tackling the housing crisis, and ensuring reliable mobile phone reception, you should vote for me. If you want to see real climate action and our natural environment protected, then vote for me,” Heise told the Mid North Coaster.
“Being independent means I’m accountable to the community—not party politics, factions, or corporate donors.”
➡ Click here to view Heise’s website.
➡️ Click here to view Heise’s Facebook page.
Australian Labor Party– Greg Vigors
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) announced Coffs-Harbour based Greg Vigors as the Cowper candidate via Facebook in January 2025 with the official launch of his Campaign held in February.
Labor candidate for Cowper, Greg Vigors. Image credit: https://oxleylabornet.wordpress.com/biography/
According to an online Labor biography, Vigors has experience in the health system, and public and customer service.
Vigors’ top priorities, if voted in, include looking at alternatives to nuclear energy, improving access to childcare, fostering small business, community safety and affordable housing and childcare.
➡️ Click here to find view Vigors’ Facebook page.
➡️ Click here to view Vigors’ online biography
➡️ Click here to find out what the Australian Labor Party stands for
One Nation Party – Chris Walsh
Chris Walsh is running for the seat of Cowper as a member of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.
Picture from Chris Walsh for Cowper Facebook page.
He was born and raised in Port Macquarie and now resides in Kempsey.
On the Pauline Hanson’s One Nation website, in Walsh’s profile, it states he opposes policies that have sent manufacturing offshore, created unsustainable immigration levels, and allowed foreign entities to dictate Australia’s future.
His work experience includes labouring, operating a landscaping business, and school chaplain.
➡️ Click here to find out more about what Pauline Hanson’s One Nation stands for
➡️ Click here to view Walsh’s website
➡️ Click here to view Walsh’s Facebook page
The Greens – Wendy Firefly
Based in Bellingen, Wendy Firefly is an environmental activist.
Picture from Wendy Firefly Greens Facebook page. Photo by Suza Hynes.
According to the Green’s website, Wendy Firefly has been a social worker for 15 years with a focus on homelessness, mental health, drug and alcohol, youth and aged care.
Firefly believes in grass roots democracy and is committed to fighting for climate action.
“I feel like I have been protesting my whole life, whether it has been as a voice for marginalised communities, running blockades in the forest, or campaigns against industrial farming,” Firefly wrote.
Firefly supports the “Yes We Cannabis” campaign to legalise cannabis.
➡️ Click here to view Firefly’s website
➡️ Click here to view Firefly’s Facebook page
➡️ Click here to find out what The Greens stand for
Legalise Cannabis Party- Megan Mathew
Megan Mathew, Legalise Cannabis Party (LCP) candidate for Cowper, is an advocate for medicinal cannabis.
Mathew has experience in hospitality, child care, event management, horticulture and community Services. She currently lives in Nambucca Heads.
Megan Mathew is running for the seat of Cowper. Picture supplied
In an email to the Mid North Coaster, Mathew said she became an advocate for medicinal cannabis after receiving her first legal prescription in 2019 after exhausting all other pharmaceutical avenues to treat her conditions.
The LCP candidate said the benefits of legalising cannabis include better [health care] access and cheaper medicine; providing a safer and healthier product for adult social use; and noted the advantages of opening up the Hemp Industry.
Mathew said her priorities are improving rural health services, increasing rural doctor numbers and reducing crime.
“A legal supply chain including a home grow option, would free up police to deal with victim and property based violent crime,” she said.
Mathew believes the Hemp industry could have positive environmental impacts while contributing to the national economy.
➡️Click here to find out what the LCP stands for
➡️Click here to view the Party Facebook page
Fusion Party – Geoffrey Marlow
According to Marlow’s bio, he has a background in hospitality and is studying law.
The Fusion candidate is open about his experience with homelessness and is passionate about combatting the issue alongside youth crime.
Fusion candidate for Cowper Geoffrey Marlow. Image: candidate’s Facebook page.
On his website, Marlow writes: “After being a victim of homelessness myself due to the current crisis afflicting the entire country, I have an insider’s view of what needs to be done to fix the multitude of issues.”
His top priorities are;
A modular renewable energy industry: creating renewable modular buildings to increase the building output, and generate a new and formidable source of housing and income.
Homelessness crisis: Marlow wants reforms on approval rates from banks, ease of access programs, better rental protection for both renters and landlords, limits to rent increases and price caps, and greater amounts of government housing available.
Youth crime and youth justice: “Instead of focussing on the outcomes of criminal behaviour, we need to look at the foundations of the problem and deal with the situations that create these behaviours, rather than trying to punish them after the fact.”
➡️ Click here to view Marlow’s website
➡️ Click here to view Marlow’s Facebook page
➡️ Click here to find out what the Fusion Party stands for
Family First Party – Peter Jackel
Peter Jackel’s work experience includes the operation of an IT consultancy, event management for charities, pastoral work with a number of churches and operating a small business.
Family First candidate for Cowper Peter Jackel. Image: Family First Party website
According to his online bio, Jackel’s main interest in running as a Family First candidate “flows from his concern that our successive Australian governments have continued to undermine its Judeo/Christian heritage and values.
“This has led to a dramatic shift from traditional values concerning marriage, family, the right to life, and the dignity of the human person. There has even been a departure from biological facts that underpin our basic understanding of gender.”
➡️ Click here to find out what the Family First party stands for
➡️ Click here to view Jackel’s Facebook page
Lyne
The division of Lyne covers 16,041 square kilometres including a part of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, MidCoast Council, Dungog Shire Council, Parts of Maitland City Council and parts of Port Stephens Council.
The National Party – Alison Penfold
The Nationals David Gillespie has been the member for Lyne since 2013, however, is retiring his seat for the upcoming federal election.
Alison Penfold has been nominated as The Nationals Candidate for Lyne.
Alison Penfold, The Nationals candidate for Lyne. Picture supplied.
“I’ve worked in small and large businesses, government, primary industry groups, and I’m now seeking support to continue the work of Dr David Gillespie,” Penfold told the Mid North Coaster.
Raised in the Manning Valley, Penfold now lives in Wauchope.
“Locals are telling me they’re hurting because of the cost of living and the cost of doing business due to overregulation and bureaucracy,” Penfold said. “We need strong and profitable businesses – big and small – to provide industry and jobs.”
Roads and community infrastructure, telecommunications and health and aged care services are also top of mind issues for Penfold.
➡️ Click here to find out what The National Party stand for
➡️ Click here to view Penfold’s website
➡️ Click here to view Penfold’s Facebook page.
Independent – Jeremy Miller
Jeremy Miller is an Independent candidate, challenging Penfold for the seat of Lyne.
He was chosen by the volunteer-led community group Independent Lyne. Miller was announced as the Independent candidate for Lyne in December 2024.
Independent candidate for Lyne, Jeremy Miller. Image credit: Jeremy Miller for Lyne Facebook page.
Miller wants to see the electorate get a fair share, according to his website, where he says “the major parties have taken us for granted for too long - we're treated like an afterthought unless there's an election on. We can do so much better.”
Miller lives in Old Bar and is the Deputy Mayor of MidCoast Council where he sits on the Audit, Risk and Improvement and MidCoast Asset Advisory Committees.
Miller previously worked in local radio, managed the Manning Entertainment Centre, among other events and entertainment roles such as Executive Producer of the Australian Event Awards and Executive Director of Monkey Baa Theatre Company.
➡️ Click here to view Miller’s website
➡️ Click here to view Miller’s Facebook page
The Greens – Tom Ferrier
Tom Ferrier has been selected as the Federal Greens candidate for Lyne.
His priorities are protecting the natural environment and advocating for renewable energy and equity for marginalised people.
One commitment by Ferrier– listed on the Greens website– is to make big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share to fund essential services like free childcare, healthcare, and education.
➡️ Click here to view Ferrier’s Facebook page
➡️ Click here to view Ferrier’s website
➡️ Click here to find out what The Greens stand for
Legalise Cannabis Party – Keys Manly
Keys Manly grew up in the Manning Valley. He has a background in farming and has been involved in local sporting groups.
Keys Manly’s priorities are to lower the cost of living, protect the environment, and create local jobs. Picture supplied.
In an email to the Mid North Coaster, Manly said he knows firsthand the struggles local farmers face and believes the hemp and cannabis industry hold the key to revitalising the agricultural sector and regional economy.
In 2023 he contested the NSW state election in the seat of Myall Lakes.
Manly’s priorities are to lower the cost of living, protect the environment, and create local jobs.
He believes hemp should be the crop of choice for local farmers. “It has the ability to regenerate the soil, reduce carbon dioxide and provide food, clothing and shelter in an environmentally friendly way.”
“Young people like myself are locked out of the housing market and I want that to change. What better way to achieve that than growing hemp houses that would be cheap to build, need little insulation, are fire and insect resistant and reduce the need for energy to cool or warm them – thus helping to reduce the cost of living and future reliance on electricity,” Manly said.
➡️ Click here to find out what the LCP stands for
➡️ Click here to view Manly’s Facebook page
➡️ Click here to view the Party Facebook page
Australian Labor Party – Digby Wilson
Labor’s candidate for Lyne is Taree resident and MidCoast councillor, Digby Wilson.
Image: Digby Wilson- Candidate for Lyne Facebook page.
According to his bio on Labor’s website, Wilson’s prior experience is in telecommunications, where he served as Chair of the Emergency Council for NSW as well as Victoria and Tasmania.
Labor’s election promises include increase number of bulk-billing options, cheaper medicine, cuts to student debt and electricity bills, improving the healthcare workforce, tax cuts and more.
➡️ Click here to find out what the ALP stands for
➡️ Click here to view Wilson’s Facebook page
➡️ Click here to view Wilson’s bio on the Labor website
Page
Page covers an area of 19,335 square kilometres with part of Coffs Harbour City Council included, with Woolgoolga in the south of the division.
The electorate mostly includes the Northern Rivers region, including Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore City, Richmond Valley and part of Ballina Shire Council.
The National Party – Kevin Hogan
Incumbent Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan of The National Party of Australia has been representing the seat of Page since 2013. He was re-elected in 2016, 2019 and 2022.
His other Parliamentary Party positions include Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House, and Shadow Cabinet Minister.
Kevin Hogan, Page MP. Picture supplied
Born in Port Augusta, South Australia, Hogan now lives near Lismore.
Prior to his position in parliament, Hogan had a career in finance.
According to his website, Hogan has served on a local council Wastewater Advisory Committee, been Vice President of his local state primary school P&C, president of the local sports club, and coached junior sporting teams.
➡️ Click here to find out how Hogan has voted in the past as an MP
➡️ Click here to find out what The National Party stand for
➡️ Click here to view Hogan’s website
➡️ Click here to view Hogan’s Facebook page
The Greens – Luke Robinson
Robinson announced he is standing as The Green’s candidate for Page on January 20. He stated via social media that he is committed to decent public services, reducing cost of living stress, and protecting the natural environment.
According to The Green’s website, Dr Luke Robinson lives north of Lismore and works in the emergency departments of the region’s hospitals.
He supports progressive causes and believes the government should support people and communities, respect and listen to First Nations people, and play a leading role globally to prevent human-induced climate change.
➡️ Click here to view Robinson’s Facebook page
➡️ Click here to view Robinson’s website
➡️ Click here to find out what The Greens stands for
Did we miss someone? Email [email protected]
Correction: A previous version of this story linked Alison Penfold’s personal Facebook page. This has been updated to her candidate page. We regret the error.