Janelle Saffin is in the lead for the seat of Lismore after yesterday's state election. Although preroll and postal votes are yet to be counted, it’s hard to imagine Saffin’s position changing.

Several commentators have remarked that, while the mainstream media is locked in furious agreement with the government over AUKUS and the trillion dollar submarines (a guess at the final price tag), social and independent media are telling quite a different tale.

With just a few days until we head to the polls, The Echo asked the candidates for the seat of Lismore one last bunch of questions.

In a tight election, with many predicting a hung parliament, all eyes are on Sydney seats to see if any Teals can wrest seats from Liberals – and can Labor regain an inner Sydney seat from the Greens?

Despite former Labor prime minister, Paul Keating, calling the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal the ‘worst international decision’ by a Labor government in more than 100 years, local federal Labor MP, Justine Elliot is promoting the massive increase in military spending as good for the ‘national interest’.

As a former teacher and Education and Training coordinator Independent Nicola Levi believes that Independent representation for the seat is essential to get the best outcomes for Clarence's constituents considering the corrupt history of the Liberal, National, and Labor parties in NSW.