This document was written without fear or favour, by The Echo editor Hans Lovejoy for the politically curious who are considering a tilt at public life, or those who are interested in the inner workings of local politics.
My intention is to hopefully inform and engage aspiring political...
A recent Meet the Candidates evening in Ocean Shores saw discussion around how to manage local river systems, which have silted up over generations, and likely contributed to the high flood levels experienced in 2022.
NSW MP Tamara Smith (Greens) has defended a political post on Facebook by Nationals candidate Josh Booyens.
Booyens claims Smith was dishonest with her response...
NSW upper house voting guide for the pragmatic progressive. The local candidates get most of the attention in the leadup to an election, but the Legislative Council (NSW Parliament’s upper house) also warrants some scrutiny.
The following is an unedited reply to questions put to Independent Kevin Loughrey.
In a Bay FM interview last week, Loughrey made claims around Indigenous...
The Nationals’ candidate for the seat of Ballina in this month’s state election has defended practices labelled ‘pork-barrelling’ in the lead-up to a Meet the Candidates forum in Byron.
The Ballina electorate is one of the key seats to watch in this month's NSW state election, with a three way tussle between the Greens, Labor and the Nationals, and the result likely to be decided by preferences. With a background in teaching and the law, the Greens' Tamara Smith has represented the region since she was elected in 2015, riding the anti-CSG wave, and then re-elected in 2019 with a 4.7% swing.
Registrations to nominate to run in the NSW state election closed yesterday, Wednesday, 8 March, for anyone wanting to compete for votes in the 25 March election.
Despite free coffee and ice cream stalls, there was a very small turnout for the flood commemoration morning tea event at Missingham Park on the weekend.
The Premier of NSW, Dominic Perrottet, was a surprise guest at Groovin' on the Green in Ballina on Saturday, a fun family event organised by Ballina on Richmond Rotary and Cherry Street Sports Club for local flood affected residents.
Young drivers in the Ballina electorate will be given a cash incentive to help them buy a newer, safer vehicle, under a program announced by the NSW Nationals, if the Coalition is re-elected in March.
Andrew Broadley is running locally for Labor in the March election. Busy out on the campaign trail, he's been a bit hard to pin down in recent weeks, but agreed to a written Q&A with The Echo.
Greens Ballina MP Tamara Smith says that if re-elected next month she is committed to funding CCTV cameras to help police combat a worsening crime situation in Ballina's CBD.
NSW election candidates make their case for improving poor education standards
With Labor think tank, The McKell Institute, outlining a sharp decrease in literacy and...
Lismore’s signature food, arts and culture festival, Norco Eat the Street, is making its highly anticipated return to the CBD on Saturday, 22 August 2026.
A contentious $300 million proposal on State Significant Farmland (SSF) next to the Tweed Hospital has been recommended for approval by The Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP). The Cudgen Connection decision came in late yesterday, after years of deliberations, opposition and political commitments to protect the SSF. It is located at 741 Cudgen Road.
Billed as the 'longest running event on the Australian surfing calendar', the Thermos Australian Longboard Titles will return for a third consecutive year to Tweed Coast beaches 24-30 July.
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