Nine of the 13 candidates for the Kiama by-election stated their case to more than 200 local residents at The Pavilion on Wednesday night.

Small business, infrastructure, political integrity and working with locals councils were the main items on the agenda although several of the candidates veered off centre.

Many of the members of the electorate in the room were well aware of the policies of the four frontrunners for next Saturday’s poll - Labor’s Katelin McInerney, Liberal Party nominee Serena Copley, Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds and The Greens’ Tonia Gray.

But the forum was a chance to hear from the little-known independent candidates and nominees from smaller parties like the Legalise Cannabis Party and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers.

Emceed by Kiama Business Network president Cathryn Lyall, the event afforded the candidates a five-minute allocation to outline their policies, then each one was given another two minutes to respond to questions about small business and infrastructure.

Independent candidates Roger Woodward and Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu, Ken Davis (Sustainable Australia) and Joshua Beer (Libertarian Party) were unable to attend the forum.

Candidates at the forum were designated to speak in the order of the ballot which was drawn last Friday with Dr Gray getting top spot.

Independent Andrew Thaler, who has been suspended from Snowy Monaro Council, told the forum that he did not mind ruffling a few feathers in order to bring about change.

“Some people don’t like the work that I do but I don’t care because I do it for the people,” he said.

“Whether I live in Snowy Monaro or live in Kiama or New Zealand, it doesn’t matter - all our electorates face the same dramas. A lack of funding, a bloated bureaucracy, slow service and delivery nice, shiny new hospitals and buildings with no equipment that works.

“If you stay independent, you will get better attention, more funding, better promises. Promises that will convert into action and expenditure.”

Lisa Cotton states her case. Photo: The Bugle

The Legalise Cannabis Party’s Don Fuggle said that he did not think there should be the middle level of government at all at state level.

“In NSW cannabis is a legally prescribed medicine and it is having great results for a lot of people,” he said.

“The down side is it remains in your body, traceable, for quite some time.”

Fuggle said a person could use it one night for medicinal purposes and be completely sober the next morning but then get arrested if they drive their car which can then affect people’s livelihoods.

Another independent, Lisa Cotton, who recently moved to Primbee from Sydney’s northern beaches, admitted that it would be very unlikely that she would win but was hoping to establish a presence in the region.

“I have been a musician since I was five years old so I am very much in line with what the arts can do for a community,” she said.

“I really believe that Kiama needs a lot more of the arts festivals and community engagement. Regardless of the outcome of the election, I’d really like to get involved with that.”

Felix Nelson from the Shooters, Fishers, Farmers said he had no particular political aspirations prior to standing for this by-election.

“My primary reasons for coming onto this campaign are a general frustration that a lot of us feel.

"I’m a lifelong local and the lack of services provided, compared with the attention we are given with all the tourism campaigns, infrastructure doesn’t seem to match up.

The geographically diverse Kiama electorate.

“A lot of it comes down to the argy-bargy back and forward between the major parties. So if nothing else I’m hear to make some noise about a few local infrastructure issues and get some attention brought to them by it whoever does win the seat.”

Ellie Robertson from the Animal Justice Party said she wanted to be “a voice for the voiceless”.

“I’ve spent years supporting people and animal causes around the world because I believe in doing what’s right not just what’s easy,” she said.

“There will never be guarantees in politics but what I can offer is this - a firm and clear commitment to advocate for the issues that matter to you and to work tirelessly for real results.”