It's fascinating insight into how the candidates tick and what is important to them.

Responses from Adam Guise, Isaac Smith, Thomas George and Gianpiero Battista are as follows and you may want to get comfortable.

THOMAS GEORGE, National Party

Since 1999 it has been my honour to represent the people of the Lismore electorate in the NSW Parliament. Before I entered parliament, I was actively involved in the Northern Rivers community through a number of community organisations and it has been a privilege to continue that work as a parliamentary representative. I am hoping to represent the whole of the Tenterfield Shire after March 28, and I would be proud to continue the work of Adam Marshall and be the voice of Tenterfield in the NSW Parliament.

Tenterfield is a new but very important addition to the Lismore Electorate, and your votes will play a crucial role in the upcoming election.

- Complete Lismore Hospital

- Continue to remove coal seam gas licences

- Continue to upgrade country bridges and roads

- Continue to deliver funding for major infrastructure projects

- Ensure that the Gonski schools funding model is honoured by the Federal Government as it delivers much needed funding for our kids.

- Complete Tenterfield bypass

- Complete Bolivia Hill realignment

- Ensure adequate health services across the region, including staffing and resourcing of both Tenterfield Community Hospital and the Urbenville MPS

- Ensuring adequate support for hardworking community organisations

- Law and order

- Provision of health services

After 16 years of the previous Labor Government which ignored regional NSW, I am proud to be a member of a Liberals/Nationals Coalition led by Mike Baird and Troy Grant that works as an effective unit to bring real change to the people of NSW, and has seen record funding for roads, schools and hospitals.

Whilst the Abbott/Truss Government has experienced difficulties in Parliament due to the constraints of a hung Senate, they have some significant runs on the board in areas including roads funding, reforms in foreign ownership and country of origin food labelling. The NSW State Coalition has an effective working relationship with the Federal Government, but we still stand up to for the people of NSW when we need to, particularly on issues such as school Gonski funding and support for our pensioners.

I was proud to work with Barnaby Joyce to deliver $6 million for planning of both the Bolivia Hill Realignment and the Tenterfield Heave Vehicle Bypass. Once this process has been completed, I'll continue to work with Barnaby to pursue the much needed funding to complete these projects.

The position of the Nationals is that Essential Energy, our country poles and wires, must remain in public hands, no ifs or buts. However, we have negotiated with the liberals that 30% ($6 Billion) of the proceeds of the lease of city poles and wires will be invested back in regional NSW - which means much needed funding flowing to our local schools, hospitals and roads.

The people of the Lismore electorate have made it very clear that they do not want CSG mining in their electorate. This week I announced the Government’s intention to buy back PEL 445 which effectively removed any prospect of CSG mining from Tenterfield Shire and most shires in the electorate.

I am committed to listening to the people of Tenterfield and fighting for health service infrastructure, resourcing and personnel on your behalf. Rather than an “unspecified amount” I can confirm that $180 million to complete Lismore Hospital is guaranteed by the Nationals, and this hospital is essential for the entire electorate.

The Council have been very successful in a number of grant applications recently, which is indicative of the hard working, professional nature of the Shire. I have a productive working relationship with Mayor Peter Petty, and looking forward to working with him, GM Lotta Jackson and the entire team at Tenterfield Shire Council.

As his Nationals colleague, I have a close friendship with Barnaby Joyce, and am looking forward to working with him to achieve real results for the people of Tenterfield -particularly on issues that need both a State and Federal contribution, like the Mount Lindesay Highway. In all my time in politics, this is the first term that Tenterfield has had Nationals representatives at both a state and federal level. Barnaby and I both have a great passion for representing local people, and I've enjoyed working alongside him for the betterment of Tenterfield shire.

In contrast to other Northern Rivers seats, the Lismore Electorate does not have any coastline, and I've had to work closely with tourism officers in all councils I represent to ensure that inland councils, particularly those in border areas, receive special consideration. Tenterfield is not only a significant historical town for the seat of Lismore, but for the whole of NSW and the country. The Nationals have established a NSW Small Business Commissioner, a range of support programs for small business and we continue to cut red tape because we recognise that small businesses are the heart and soul of communities like Tenterfield

NSW state elections are non-preferential. Simply vote one Thomas George. 

ADAM GUISE, Greens Party

The future of our tourism and farming industries is under threat from the Nationals' pro coal seam gas agenda, with gas licences still covering 70% of the electorate. I nominated as a candidate for the Greens because I care about the future of this region and want to give our regional communities a strong voice in parliament. When I worked for Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham in State Parliament I was shocked by the corruption evident in both the major parties. I want to see integrity from our MPs and end the corporate donations culture in politics.

The Lismore electorate is large, some 13,000 km2. Every community's vote is important to ending the corruption and bringing real representation back to our region. Having grown up in the small country towns of Macksville and Kempsey, I feel its important towns like Tenterfield have a strong voice. Every vote counts and I want to represent the diversity of the entire electorate, particularly small regional towns like Tenterfield which have been ignored for too long.

The Lismore electorate is large and diverse, and priorities will be different in each community. However, talking to lots of people across the region, some common themes emerge: People want a gasfield free region and a clean energy future. I will act to cancel the coal seam gas licences and develop a plan for the electorate to go 100 per cent renewable energy. Tenterfield made a bid for 100 per cent renewable but missed out. I want to make it happen. Protect our farmland and support farmers to grow clean, healthy food and fibre for a hungry world. The Greens’ policy initiatives such as ‘Our Food Future’, Landcare, low interest loans for young farmers, Regional Renewal Fund and ideas for diversification all support keeping farmers on the land. Ensure health services are fully funded and accessible to all, so that everyone can have happy, healthy lives. Clean up politics by ending the corrupting influence of coal, gas and developer donations on our political system. Stopping the privatisation of TAFE and our poles and wires. TAFE is essential to regional education in towns like Tenterfield, and owning our poles and wires is critical for country jobs and service quality.

Tenterfield and surrounding communities have a whole range of issues to address, principally being the isolation and confusion over electoral boundaries. Greater efforts need to go into resolving cross-border issues, particularly with emergency services and accessing health care. Creating new job opportunities is critical to keeping people in Tenterfield and ensuring a bright future for the town. Renewable energy projects would create local jobs for tradies and bring investment.  Crop diversification such as growing broad acre hemp for food would allow Tenterfield to take advantage of a multi-billion dollar global boom. Maintaining access to services, particularly health care, domestic violence and family services is essential for creating a happy and healthy community. Recent government cuts to services threatens regional towns like Tenterfield the most, which is already lacking adequate support.

That’s a difficult hypothetical question to answer, but after speaking to numerous people in Tenterfield, jobs, access to affordable health and education, and having genuine representation seem to be recurring themes. People are sick of our unrepresentative political system ignoring regional areas like Tenterfield. People want affordable access to health care, and don’t want to travel hundreds of kilometres to far away hospitals in Lismore or the Hunter for medical services. People need job and training opportunities if they are to stay in the town and prosper.

Along with many other people I talk to, I feel betrayed by the current Liberal-National party government. People in the country feel ignored, and cuts to services have made life difficult. The plans to sell off our electricity poles and wires and privatise our health and TAFE system means job losses, higher prices, and lower quality services. The corruption apparent in both the major parties means people are disillusioned with a government that promised transparency and integrity. The Greens offer a new way of doing politics which actually represents the community.

There’s no way to describe the federal Liberal-National government other than a train wreck. This government has handed down the cruellest budget in living memory, with cuts to numerous services that hurt regional communities like Tenterfield the most. Rather than taking on multinational tax evaders, the big banks’ super profits, or removing subsidies to dirty coal companies, the Liberal-National government is hurting the most vulnerable in our community.

As the Tenterfield bypass relies on Federal government funding, and has been decades in the planning, much will depend on the Federal government delivering on its commitments. If elected, I will certainly work closely with the Federal member to see the project to completion. Nevertheless, it’s important that the project includes strategies to maintain visitor numbers to the town (such as signage, town promotion etc) to mitigate against the ‘heavy vehicle bypass’ becoming a ‘town bypass’.

The privatisation of the state’s electricity poles and wires will result in job losses, higher electricity prices and lower service quality. With Tenterfield and much of the Lismore electorate being at the ‘end of the line’, privatisation will hurt our region the most. The control of our electricity infrastructure is necessary for the rapid transition to a job rich, clean energy future while providing a fair price to renewable energy generators (such as houses with rooftop PV).

The Greens unequivocally support the community’s call for a coal seam gas ban in not only the Lismore electorate, but across NSW. Evidence shows that the industry is too risky to our precious farmland, water and climate. While the other parties are playing catchup a few weeks out from election day, the Greens are the only party who have stood alongside the community from the very start. While the Liberals, Nationals and Labor take donations from coal and gas companies, our democracy is compromised. Having personally dedicated the last 3 years to protecting our region from coal seam gas, I am committed to seeing the gas licences which still cover 70 per cent of our region cancelled.

Additional funding for health services in Tenterfield is welcome. However, I am sceptical that such tenuous promises are merely ‘vote buying’ weeks out from Election Day. While the old parties are keen to put money into new buildings as a ‘quick fix’, Tenterfield needs in-community preventative health programs that prevent health problems before they reach crisis point. Investment in outreach nurses, allied health professionals, domestic violence services, and improved medical transport services would go a long way to creating a healthier community.

Having talked to numerous people in the Tenterfield shire, including councillors, Tenterfield council faces many of the same challenges that other regional councils face. Having such a large shire means the upkeep of aging infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, stretches resources thin. This has been made all the more difficult with the Federal Liberal-National government’s cuts to Financial Assistance Grants to councils. Further, the state Liberal-National government’s plans for council amalgamations is ludicrous, and will lead to less representation and greater financial burden. With the expectation on councils to deliver more services and maintain thousands of kilometres of roads, council needs State and Federal government assistance.

If elected as the Member for Lismore, I would bring a strong voice to Tenterfield shire, particularly in getting noticed by the very Canberra-focussed Federal government. Having previously worked in State parliament and successfully negotiated amendments to legislation with the current Liberal-National government, I feel I have the skills, respect and perseverance necessary to deliver for Tenterfield. My whole-hearted support for farming and regional communities means I would be a strong advocate for Tenterfield when working alongside the agricultural Minister, Barnaby Joyce.

Small business is the backbone of regional towns like Tenterfield. Although retail has suffered in recent times for various reasons, Tenterfield has a real opportunity to make use of its natural assets and reinvigorate small business. The Greens’ support for renewable energy means education and training opportunities for people wanting to prepare themselves for the new economy. Renewable energy projects such as rooftop solar, solar hot water, biogas, and wind power provides jobs for tradies and apprentices. Renewable energy employs more people than coal and gas, is long term, and shares the wealth around the community. Tenterfield is the birthplace of the Commonwealth and a gateway to amazing National Parks. Alongside its history, numerous cafes, mild climate and friendly people, Tenterfield offers a real opportunity to be a hub for regional tourism. Investment in tourism promotion, encouraging festivals (such as Oracles of the Bush) to bring in visitors, and combining farmstays with agri-tourism are some ways Tenterfield could use its natural assets. Innovate business ideas such as Bald Rock Beef Jerky, which value add and keep business local, can be stimulated through government investment in research and development, innovation, and simply, a properly funded TAFE system, which is currently under threat.

The NSW state election is ‘optional preferential’ which means voters choose how to direct their preferences. We can only recommend how to preference, but it is entirely up to the voter. The threat that the National Party’s coal seam gas agenda poses to our region, mean it’s important to Vote Greens 1, number every square, and put the Nationals last. 

GIANPIERO BATTISTA, Christian Democratic Party

I am running for the seat of Lismore because I believe all major parties have failed to represent our region in NSW. We deserve better jobs, better services, and above all a better focus on solving our problems. I am providing a choice for those who have become disenchanted with all major parties and with the balance of power in the senate I can deliver the goods for the region like never before.

With 3,000 voters it may be that Tenterfield could become the deciding factor in an election that everyone predict to be a very close context. I just hope that the residents realise the dangers of voting for the Greens and chose not to vote for a Labor party that has caused so many problems in the past.

I would like to see CSG banned in the Northern Rivers. A firm commitment from the NSW government to help lift our region from an economic limbo with more and better quality jobs, increase services in Health in particular in Tenterfield. An effort to improve transport within the region with for example funding for bridges replacement for Kyogle, better and safer roads and an affordable and improved public transport. I also would like to fight for the right of farmers to farm their land and make a good living out of it therefore reducing the cost imposed by red and green tape form all levels of government. Last I would, if elected and supported by the CDP balance of power, ask for an inquiry into local councils and their decision making because I believe ratepayers need a better return and value for their rates.

Hospital services back to a level where people can safely decide to live in Tenterfield and not fear for their life. Devise a strategy to improve and reduce costs in farming practices in order to produce good returns for local farmers and encourage and promote the same lifestyle to people in the cities who may wish to move to the region. I would like to see some Government services moved to the area with a creation of jobs for the long term.

Council rates are becoming increasingly unaffordable for both residents and businesses. Inadequate Health services for those living in the city and on the farm. CSG as a threat for the Tourism image of the area.

I believe the Baird and before him O’Farrell governments have done a good job at returning NSW to the number one State in Australia after the mismanagement and corruption of the Labor’s  years. It is time now though to shift the government economic focus on this region.

The Abbott/Truss government has in my opinion failed to communicate about their plans and policies with the electorate. Everyone understood that the Nation could not continue to spend beyond its means but they were not engaged in the decision making process and therefore did not understand or want to participate once the decision was made for them.

If this is what the community want I will make it one of my priorities. I have seen the increased economic benefits enjoyed by other similar by-passes in Bangalow and Alstonville and this could be the catalyst Tenterfield need for a new economic boom.

It is important to make sure that if the Lease goes ahead that prices are kept under control and do not increase not just in the short but also in the long term. The CDP is asking for an inquiry into the effect of this partial privatisation on prices. Also it is important that regions like Tenterfield and Lismore electorate in general are at the centre of the Government investments in infrastructure.

Should be banned and licences should be bought back.

I would like to see the hospital services restored to a level that would guarantee safety of treatments for those living in the area including maternity services. Once that is achieved and if needed I would lobby for the facility to be built by using the party balance of power in the Upper House.

State government cost shifting is causing some real trouble but from what I have heard people are not happy with some of Council’s decisions in particular for the economic development of the city and the recent unaffordable rate increases.

I am a conservative at heart and therefore I think I would really work well with Mr Joyce and in fact I am quite excited and can’t wait to talk to him about some ideas I have in regards to farming.

I have a degree in Tourism and teach at Southern Cross University for the School of Tourism and I also owned a number of small hospitality businesses in Lismore for 15 years. You could say I am experienced in both and for Tourism in particular I believe that what you need these days is to be able to offer an experience not just a place to visit. I would focus on the amazing history of the city and its natural beauty. For small business the best thing you could do is lower red tape from all level of governments and the costs associated with it.

If and when the government announces the buy-back of the CSG licences in the Lismore electorate I will preference Thomas George as my number 2 and leave the other boxes blank.

ISAAC SMITH, Labor Party

Because the people I speak to want change. It seems our voice in Sydney continues to get quieter under the National party and I want that to stop. We need action on big issues like rural roads, hospital and stopping the sale of our electricity network.

Tenterfield will play a major roll as the Seat of Lismore is set to become marginal after decades of one sided contests. It may come down to a handful of votes.

Stopping CSG is an issue that has united the community. I continue to fight for property owners rights. We should all say no to big business interests taking over on farms. Selling off public assets is not in the interests of future generations, so I oppose any privatisation of Electricity, Hospitals of TAFE. Rural roads need more funding form the State as Local Government cannot cope with the backlog that has built up over the past 50 years. Supporting TAFE and Hospital staff by investing in facilities again and addressing cut backs that has seen patients and students worse off. We need better staffing ratios in our Hospitals. A lot of help is delivered by the Not for Profit sector in our communities, but short term contacts and competitive tendering has cut services in areas such as mental health, domestic violence and preventative health. These organisations need more money and job security, so they can keep working in our community.

I want to bring maternity services back to Tenterfield Hospital. The MPS funding is a step in the right direction, as I believe everyone has the right to all of life healthcare in their community. Privatisation of electricity will hurt country people the most. Other states that are privatised already pay a distance tax as big business has to make more profit every year for shareholders. We need to keep this essential asset in public hands. Rural roads need funding. There has been a lot of roads built since the second world war and these are now reaching a critical point where the local government backlog is almost insurmountable. We need more money from the State and Federal govt. to reduce this backlog and make our roads safe.

I have spoken to people in Tenterfield and the three issues above are the ones I hear most.

We all wanted them to be better than the previous govt. but they are not. Infant there are now 3 times as many from this government who have been found corrupt. We need change to remove the worst of what has been 8 years of bad government.

It is hard to say anything positive about the Abbott government. Attacks across our community have hurt pensioners, families and all workers.

The community is still split on the Bypass. Most know it needs to happen, so I can only be guided by what locals want and try to fight for that outcome.

It should not happen. We need to keep essential assets in our hands and away form Big business.

CSG hurts communities and ruins farmland. We don't need it in our area.

I will keep fighting for more money until we get back our Maternity services.

Councils, like all level of government, receive a lot of criticism. Some is valid, while a lot comes from the constant cost shifting from state or federal government. I think that Tenterfield council needs some form of best practice review so that locals can be reassured that all rates collected are well spent.

With a big smile on my face, fighting for better local outcomes. After two terms in local government I know that I can work with anyone who is passionate about their community.

Reducing regulation around small is a must. I have never understood why big businesses get all the breaks and concessions. Small business is our biggest employer ad should be supported more. Tourism funding in our region is critical, as it is a major jobs growth area.

We are directing our preferences to candidates who oppose CSG and Privatisation. We are asking people to number every square and put the Nationals last.