Community Conversations with Tegan Swan

Brought to you by Tegan Swan

Your simple, honest, hopefully entertaining, guide to who’s running, how voting works, and how to make your vote count.

❓This is for you if you’ve ever thought:

“I don’t get how it works...” “They’re all the same...” “Does my vote even matter?”

We hear you. But honestly? It does. And we’re here to explain the whole thing — minus the jargon, spin, and snoring.

📍The Page Electorate: Who represents us federally?

Woolgoolga and the Northern Beaches are part of the Page electorate, which stretches right up through the Northern Rivers of NSW. We’ve got beaches, farms, rivers, hills... and now, 11 people wanting to represent us in federal parliament.

Every candidate has been listed below at no cost. We’ve offered each of them a free virtual interview with Woopi News (because we’re all about transparency and access). Some took us up on it, some didn’t – and that might already tell you something.

🔍 Scan our QR code to watch the interviews, or jump on our website for further info and links to learn more about each one.

🗺️ Fast facts about Page

👤 MP: Kevin Hogan (Nationals) since 2013, now Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism

🗺️ Where: Far North Coast NSW — from northern Coffs Harbour to the QLD border

🏛️ Includes: Lismore, Casino, Grafton, Woolgoolga and everything in between

🗳️ History: A ‘swing seat’ from 1990 to 2019 — but stayed with the Nationals in 2022

🆕️ Update: Page picked up 2,400 new voters north of Coffs from Cowper this election

🧭 Named after: Sir Earle Page, a former PM who lived in the area and held Cowper for 42 years

🏛️ What does a federal MP actually do?

Our federal MP is our voice in Canberra. They:

• Fight (or fail to fight) for local funding and infrastructure that flows to the state gov and sometimes down to a local gov level. 

• Vote on big laws that affect the whole country — housing, climate, health, the economy

• Shape national conversations about what matters most

They don’t fix potholes or run hospitals (that’s state and local biz). But they do help decide how our tax dollars are spent. So yeah — they matter.

🧩 Who does what in government land?

Let’s simplify the levels of government without boring us all to death.

🟢 Federal (Canberra)

Big picture stuff: defence, immigration, Medicare, Centrelink, air travel, and trade. They send money to the states for schools, hospitals, and more. We vote for them in the federal election.

🔵 State (NSW)

Runs things we deal with daily: schools, public hospitals, roads, trains, police, fire services. Most complaints about ‘the government’ should probably go here.

🟠 Local (Council)

Bins. Parks. Pools. Playgrounds. Pets. Permits. Planning. They’re our grassroots/closest to home decision-makers.

🧠 Real life example:

• Your kid goes to school → funded/controlled by state, partly by federal

• You catch a bus → a state route using federal road money (except that one time our local council had a crack at it. 😉)

• You support a democratic sausage sizzle → powered by elections for all three levels of government  (and probably a Lions Club or P&C committee)

🗳️ How does voting actually work? (minus the jargon)

You get two ballot papers. Both are important. One is small and green. The other is big, white, and terrifying.

🟩 House of Representatives (Green paper)

This is the vote for your local MP in Page.

• Number EVERY box — start with “1” for your top pick

• Don’t skip a box or repeat a number

• Yes, even if there are 11 candidates

• WE REPEAT… NUMBER EVERY BOX!

⚪ Senate (White paper)

This is for the NSW-wide Senators. You’ve got two choices:

1. Vote above the line → number at least 6 parties

2. Vote below the line → number at least 12 candidates

Above = easier, but parties decide who gets in.

Below = more control, but takes longer. Choose your own adventure.

📝 Tip: If you stuff it up, just ask for another paper. No shame. Happens all the time.

🔁 Preferential voting: aka ‘Your vote is not wasted’

It’s not ‘first past the post.’ It’s ‘preferential.’ 

That means:

• Your vote flows to your next pick if your top choice doesn’t win

• You can safely vote for a minor party or independent without wasting your vote

• Preferences = power

Busted Myths (Thanks to Dennis the Election Koala – seriously, check it out, you won’t be disappointed) LINK: https://www.chickennation.com/voting

Myth: Minor parties are pointless

Truth: Wrong. They can win, influence policy, and balance power in parliament

Myth: My preferred candidate won’t win so why bother?

Truth: Your preferences still matter — and influence who does win

Myth: Safe seats = no point voting

Truth: Your first preference helps direct campaign funding and future policy

So vote like it counts — because it literally does.

Oh, and any candidate who gets over 4% of the vote? They get actual dollars from the AEC to help recoup the costs of campaigning.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Meet Your Candidates

We’ve got 11 candidates running in Page. Here’s your cheat sheet:

1. Richard Wells – Independent

Local farmer. Community-focused. Party-free.

2. Donna Lee Pike – Trumpet of Patriots

Limited public info. Do some digging before you decide.

3. Wendy Backhous – Australian Labor Party

Backs Labor’s national platform: health, cost-of-living, climate action.

4. Kevin Hogan – National Party (Incumbent)

MP since 2013. Focused on roads, ag, and regional development.

5. Jennifer Baker – Australian Citizens Party

Advocates for public banking and infrastructure reform.

6. Luke Robinson – The Greens NSW

Strong on climate, social justice, First Nations, and future-forward policies.

7. Brenton Williams – Libertarian Party

Wants reduced government control, big on personal freedom and lower taxes.

8. Andrew Grady – Family First Party Australia

Traditional family values, Christian-based platform.

9. Jordan Colless – Independent

Little public info available. Independent research encouraged.

10. Peter Nottle – One Nation

Policy focuses on immigration, regional self-sufficiency, and national identity.

11. Josh Pianca – Shooters, Fishers and Farmers

Advocates for rural lifestyles, landowner rights, and individual freedoms.

🗓️ What happens after the election?

You voted. Great! Now what?

All the pretty words and promises don’t end at the ballot box:

• Follow whoever becomes our MP on socials

• Email them about issues that matter to you

• Attend public forums, ask questions, share your perspective

• Get involved in local causes

Remember: Our politicians work for us. Let’s stay connected and keep them accountable.

🧠 Over to you…

We’re not here to tell you who to vote for. We want to remind you that your voice matters — and hopefully this information is a tool to help you to use it.

The future of our region and our country depend on us showing up —and casting a thoughtful, informed vote.

Let’s make it count.

💻 Want to go deeper? Visit:

• www.buildaballot.org.au

• www.aec.gov.au

• Or scan our QR code to watch candidate interviews and get more info.

🗳️  Where to vote

Our two closest early voting centres are: (unfortunately there is no early voting available in Woolgoolga)

Coffs Harbour: 27-29 Duke St, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 Grafton  

Grafton Cathedral Hall Edwards Hall, Cnr Duke St & Fitzroy, Grafton 

🗳️ Polling Places on Election Day Polls are open from 8am to 6pm

Woolgoolga Public School 

📍 1-11 Scarborough St, Woolgoolga

Mullaway Public School

📍 15 Whitton Pl, Mullaway

Sandy Beach Public School

📍 19 Saye Cl, Sandy Beach

Corindi Public School

📍 15 Coral St, Corindi Beach

Red Rock Multi Use Centre

📍 10 Red Rock Rd, Red Rock

Nana Glen Community Hall

📍 26 Grafton St, Nana Glen

Kororo Public School

📍 3 Korora School Rd, Korora

Glenreagh Public School

📍 Cnr Bridge St & Dorrigo St, Glenreagh

Coramba Public School

📍 6 Short St, Coramba

Karangi Public School

📍1004-1006 Coramba Rd, Karangi

Wooli Hall

📍 92 Main St, Wooli

Lowanna Community Hall

📍 33 Grafton St, Lowanna

Remember: Voting is compulsory