Independent fundraising group aiming to win safe electorates fails to score seatsBy Charles RushforthABC Coffs CoastTopic:Australian Federal Elections2h ago2 hours agoWed 7 May 2025 at 12:19amCaz Heise was among several independents who fell short of wins predicted before the election. (Supplied: Clancy Barnard)In short: A fundraising group aimed at giving independents a "leg up" in the regions has hailed the election a success despite failing to win new seats.The Regional Voices Fund donated to 13 independent candidates across the country.What's next?Australian Studies Institute director Mark Kenny says support for the independent movement is still growing.abc.net.au/news/regional-voices-fund-fails-to-win-new-seats-federal-election/105255406Link copiedShareShare articleIt was the National Party's most marginal seat in the country with some pollsters, and even bookies, predicting the seat of Cowper would flip for the second time since 1901 on election weekend.All eyes were on independent Caz Heise, whose prior election campaign came within a slim margin of flipping the coastal electorate between Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie in New South Wales.Federal politics live updates: Get the latest on the post-election election landscapeLive results: Find out what's happening in your seat as counting continuesDespite an increase in her primary vote, Ms Heise fell short to Nationals incumbent Pat Conaghan. A fundraising group seeking to destabilise legacy seats across Australia added campaigning power to Ms Heise's second tilt for the seat.Ms Heise was one of more than a dozen independents funded by Regional Voices Fund, a fundraising group seeking to destabilise legacy seats across Australia.Chair Lorraine Gordon said she was buoyed by the result, despite the loss."What I've noticed based on the results is just how much we've shifted the dial, most of the independents have had quite astronomical increases in votes," Dr Gordon said.Independents lose tight contestsThe shock loss in Cowper comes as nearly all 13 independents backed by the Regional Voices Fund failed to win seats in the federal election.The ABC understands the fund aimed to raise $2 million to be distributed across all candidates.The Regional Voices Fund did not respond to questions from the ABC about the amount of money in the fund or the size of donations allocated to each independent candidate.Lorraine Gordon says she was disappointed by the result in Cowper. (Supplied: Lorraine Gordon)Many independents supported by the fund ran close contests across the country, with some candidates gaining double-digit increases in their primary vote.In Victoria, first-time independent candidate Ben Smith is trailing Liberal MP Zoe Mckenzie in the electorate of Flinders, previously the Liberals' only safe seat in Melbourne.East to the division of Wannon, independent Alex Dyson gained a 13.3 per cent increase to his primary vote but fell short of besting sitting Liberal Dan Tehan for the third election in a row.LaTrobe University PhD student Phoebe Hayman said the regional independent movement had became more organised.Alex Dyson received donations from the Regional Voices Fund. (ABC News: Matt Holmes)"The Regional Voices Fund is a relatively recent development, set up mostly out of people who came out of the voices for Indi group," she said."So it has strong links and ties to the independence movement as a whole … this growing national network supports them in being able to compete with party organisations who have much more resources."The Regional Voices Fund even has familial links to the Voices for Indi movement, with Cathy McGowan's sister Helen McGowan serving as director, and incumbent Helen Haines' husband on the board as an advisor.Ms Haines was also the only independent funded by the group who achieved a political victory this year after retaining the electorate of Indi. There was also crossover with Climate 200, with the fundraising group donating to 12 of the 13 candidates supported by the Regional Voices Fund.Election fallout and analysis:Liberal Party's Tim Wilson reclaims Goldstein, while Labor MPs retain Franklin and WillsANALYSIS: The Coalition and Clive Palmer didn't win their own election culture warAge, income and housing cleave a divide in how Australians voteWant even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 federal election coverageCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC ListenLabor swing hurts independentsAustralian Studies Institute director Mark Kenny said a swing towards the government hurt the increasingly organised campaigns from regional independents."We didn't really have a protest against the government election, as we did in 2022 where we saw the unpopularity of the Morrison government," Professor Kenny said.Mark Kenny says a swing towards the government hurt independents' campaigns this year. (Supplied: Mark Kenny)"A lot of that [2022] vote did not turn up in Labor's column … we saw a lot of Liberal seats in the inner cities go to those teal independents."[This year] was an election where voters reinforced their commitment to the existing government."In the case of Cowper, while Ms Heise grew her primary vote by 3.5 per cent, her two-party preferred margin fell by 0.77 per cent.Ms Heise attributed the fall to the sheer number of conservative parties running this year."Last time, we had six candidates," she said."This time we had 11, which means the preferences get watered down and lost in the mix."We also had more right-wing and minor parties and individuals in Cowper this time. So it did split a lot of votes."Ms Heise said she would not recontest the seat in 2028, while Alex Dyson said he was divided on his political future."Being able to help my hometown in whatever way I can, I think that is what I'll do," he said."Maybe that could be [as] the candidate again, or maybe that's by endorsing another incredible human being."Ms Gordon said the momentum behind the fund was not slowing as it regrouped ahead of the next federal election."We're in this for the long haul," Dr Gordon said.Posted 2h ago2 hours agoWed 7 May 2025 at 12:19am, updated 2h ago2 hours agoWed 7 May 2025 at 12:25amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesPakistan's prime minister vows India's attacks will 'not go unpunished'LIVEPhoto shows A man rides his motorbike through rubble in the darkASIC takes action against Macquarie for 'significant' failuresTopic:Business and Industry RegulationPhoto shows Macquarie Group headquarters, SydneyCourt orders release of 'vicious' CCTV footage after three-year legal battleTopic:CrimePhoto shows External images of Reiby Youth Detention Centre.A feedback loop tanked Dutton's campaign in its final weekAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Clive Palmer NPCNationals leader backs in nuclear as Liberal senator demands it be scrappedLIVEPhoto shows Liberal Party launch in SydneyRelated storiesGreens' Adam Bandt at risk in Melbourne, Liberal win tipped for GoldsteinTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A composite photo of a brunette woman, brown haired man with glasses, blonde woman with glasses and dark haired man.Related topicsAraratAustralian Federal ElectionsBeaufortCoffs HarbourGovernment and PoliticsMinor PartiesMorningtonPort MacquarieWarrnamboolTop StoriesPakistan's prime minister vows India's attacks will 'not go unpunished'Topic:Unrest, Conflict and WarPhoto shows A man rides his motorbike through rubble in the darkASIC takes action against Macquarie for 'significant' failuresTopic:Business and Industry RegulationCourt orders release of 'vicious' CCTV footage after three-year legal battleTopic:CrimeA feedback loop tanked Dutton's campaign in its final weekAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbNationals leader backs in nuclear as Liberal senator demands it be scrappedTopic:ElectionsJust InFather who fatally shook baby has 10 years added to jail timeTopic:Courts17m ago17 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 2:13amLiberal leadership race narrows to two likely contenders, Ley and Taylor, as MPs split over nuclearTopic:Liberal Party of Australia20m ago20 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 2:09amKaren Webb to step down as NSW police commissionerBREAKING1m ago1 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 2:29amBean counting continues as independent Jessie Price eyes a 'not-so-safe' Labor seatTopic:Australian Federal Elections15m ago15 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 2:14amMore Just InBack to top