Swelling support for Independent candidates spills over to regional electorates

Across the country, support for the two major parties is declining.

This showed itself in the 2022 election with a large number of Independent and Teal candidates winning inner city electorates.

This election, support is growing for community Independents in regional electorates all over Australia, setting up tight contests in rural NSW and Western Victoria.

Cowper is an electorate on the mid-north coast of NSW, and has been held by the Nationals Party since 1963. Formerly a safe seat, in 2022 the Nationals only managed to beat Independent Caz Heise by a razor thin margin of 2.4%.

Produced By: George Pople

Featured In Story: Caz Heise

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 9 April 2025