
An independent candidate has drawn the coveted top position in the ballot draw for the federal election in the Lyne electorate.
The draw was held at 12pm Friday (April 22) at the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) office in Taree, watched over by four of the eight candidates running for the seat.
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Dr David Gillespie (Nationals), Alex Simpson (Labor), Joel Putland (United Australia Party) and Steve Attkins (Independent) were the only candidates present at the ballot draw.
The ballot order is as follows:
- Joanne Pearce, Independent
- Joel Putland, United Australia Party
- David Gillespie, National Party (incumbent)
- Alexander Simpson, Labor Party
- Steve Attkins, Independent
- Mark Hornshaw, Liberal Democratic Party
- Josephine Cashman, Pauline Hanson's One Nation
- Karl Attenborough, Australian Greens

The ballot is drawn by an AEC employee, blindfolded for the entirety of the proceedings, who draws numbered balls from a barrel.
A pre ballot draw is done to assign each candidate a number, drawn out in the order in which each candidate's nomination lodgement was received by the AEC, to determine which number in the draw will be assigned to which candidate in the draw.
The election is being held on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.