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Byron Shire
June 24, 2026

Who to vote for and where to pre poll for the seat of Page

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NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it's handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

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Mullum Scout Hall fire overnight

At 1.45am this morning the NSW Fire and Rescue Mullumbimby Station 388 Sans and Brunswick Station 240 were called to a fire at the Mullumbimby Scout Hall.

NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it's handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

What are we going to *DO* about it?

Israel is expediting legislation to plan and legalise 69 outposts, allocating over 100-million shekels (about US$34-million). Israel’s Defence Ministry is...

Cartoons of the week – 24 June, 2026

The Echo loves your letters and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, send us your epistles.

Tipping point, climate change

Please do not think me didactic. There is a sense of urgency that communities including Byron Bay must prepare for. ...

Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

Faith-based, not-for-profit organisation providing community services in NSW, Wesley Mission, has welcomed Tweed Shire Council’s decision to publicly recognise the impact of gambling harm and advocate for stronger harm-minimisation measures.

Independent Richard Wells who has listed himself as a ‘farmer’ has landed the ‘donkey vote’ (first) position for the electorate of Page in the Lower House (House of Representative) for the 2025 federal election. 

Sitting member, National Party member Kevin Hogan, has come in in fifth position while Labor’s Wendy Backhous is in third position and Greens Dr Luke Robinson is in sixth position on the ballot. 

All together there are 11 candidates vying for the seat of Page that covers Evans Head, Wardell, Lismore, Nimbin, Kyogle, Casino, Iluka, Bonalbo, the northern suburbs of Coffs Harbour, and Grafton. 

Who the hell is what?

Some of the parties that are running seem benign, but really aren’t once you get under the hood. For a quick guide to who represents what according to environmental sustainability and social equity check out our The good, the bad, and the ugly: 2025 election senate voting guide – from identifying the ‘harmless hippies who like pot’ to those who have been ‘standing up for racist bigots since 1996’ – we’ll give it to you like it is.

Candidates in order of ballot are:

Richard Wells – Independent

Donna Lee Pike – Trumpet of Patriots

Wendy Backhous – Labor

Kevin Hogan – Incumbent Nationals MP

Jennifer Baker – Australians Citizens Party

Dr Luke Robinson – The Greens NSW

Brenton Williams – Liberation Party

Andrew Grady – Family First

Jordan Colless – Independent

Peter Nottle – Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

Josh Pianca – Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party

Early voting open

If you don’t want the challenge of voting on Saturday, May 3 you can head to your local pre-polling stations and cast your vote early. For the seat of Page you can pre-poll at:

  • Richmond Room, 5 Regatta Ave, Ballina
  • Goonellabah Community Centre, 27 Oliver Ave, Goonellabah
  • 4 Zadoc St, Lismore
  • Maclean RSL, 38 River St, Maclean
  • Casino Community & Cultural Centre, 35 Walker St, Casino 
  • Grafton Cathedral Hall, Edwards Hall, Cnr Duke St & Fitzroy, Grafton
  • Rigby House, 27-29 Duke St, Coffs Harbour

For further information on opening times go to the Australian Electoral Commission(AEC) website



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Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Citizen science last line of defence for threatened species

Native forest logging is again in the spotlight in NSW, following Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into Forestry Corporation NSW’s failure to protect nationally endangered species.

Site confirmed for future high school at Pottsville

The NSW government says it has secured a site for a future high school in Pottsville, delivering on its commitment to future-proof public education for the growing Tweed community in the Northern Rivers.

Eleven winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with twelve students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.