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Australian by-election a litmus test for right-wing One Nation Party

Australian by-election a litmus test for right-wing One Nation Party

Victory for the populist party in Farrer, New South Wales, would see One Nation's first MP elected to Australia's national parliament.

May 8, 2026 at 10:39 PM Original source
11 agencies covered this story

Coverage by Political Leaning

See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story

Left
6 articles
Lean Left
4 articles
Center
1 articles
Lean Right
0 articles
No coverage
Right
0 articles
No coverage

Notable Quotes

"I had lost a bit of faith in the major parties. They say one thing to your face and then go and do something else in parliament."

— David Farley , Politician

"What I want to dabble in is the truth – that was just fucking nonsense."

— David Farley , Politician

"It’s weak and lazy criticism."

— Michelle Milthorpe , Politician

"I found it quite refreshing [talking] with him and being able to debate some of the same issues that we have in Australia."

— David Farley , Politician

"My strong sense is that despite an electoral system that often seems to operate as a protection racket for the uniparty, the future of the Liberal party is as imperilled as that of the UK Conservative party."

— Tom Hunt , Politician

"Farrer is at a critical point. We either keep going as the way we are, or we have a change of direction and that is what is required."

— Louise Burge , Activist

"It has certainly got very interesting and I can understand people's sentiment with the swing to One Nation, just with the Liberal party and politics in general."

— Chris Stillard , Activist

"I followed Labor all my life... But about 15 years ago they started telling people what they need to do and not looking after them."

— David Gilcrist , Activist

"Get over it. This is a country with serious issues on our plate and journalists want to trawl through 14-year-old, tongue-in-cheek comments?"

— Pauline Hanson , Politician

"Mr Farley’s comments about former prime minister Gillard were inappropriate. It is up to Mr Farley to clarify those remarks."

— Melissa McIntosh , Politician

"Would welcome discussion when we meet Tuesday on the proposed management of preferences, whose and how to secure them."

— David Farley , Politician

"Next federal election must be on or before 27th September 2025 ~ 19 month away or earlier, time is of the essence as D day isn’t clearly transparent."

— David Farley , Politician

"Sussan Ley with the position of deputy leader of the Liberal party and two-decade incumbent for Farrer will not go without a serious fight, that will be fought with a well-funded purse."

— David Farley , Politician

"I wanted to match that to what my skills were … in agriculture, agribusiness and community, and I could see the job that was required."

— David Farley , Politician

"we're coming after those other seats."

— Pauline Hanson , Politician

"We see the political class as totally disconnected from our everyday lives."

— Michelle Milthorpe , Politician

"I wanted to match that to what my skills were … in agriculture, agribusiness and community, and I could see the job that was required."

— David Farley , Politician

"we're coming after those other seats."

— Pauline Hanson , Politician

"We see the political class as totally disconnected from our everyday lives, and we are more ready than ever to register our disconnect at the ballot box."

— Michelle Milthorpe , Politician

"It's a win for the rest of Australia."

— Pauline Hanson , Politician

"For too long we have been a party of convenience, not conviction and that must change."

— Angus Taylor , Politician

"The next two years will be a test for One Nation."

— Michelle Milthorpe , Politician

Key People

A
Angus TaylorPoliticianRight

Opposition leader who commented on the threats against parliamentarians.

A
Anthony AlbanesePoliticianLeft

Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia.

B
Barnaby JoycePoliticianRight

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.

B
Brad RobertsonPoliticianRight

Nationals candidate in the Farrer by-election.

C
Chris StillardActivistRight

Chris Stillard is a Barooga resident and Coalition voter concerned about water issues.

D
David FarleyPoliticianRight

David Farley is the One Nation party candidate and former CEO of the Australian Agricultural Company.

D
David GilcristActivistLeft

David Gilcrist is a truck driver and longtime Labor voter who has shifted support towards One Nation.

J
Jane HumePoliticianRight

Deputy leader of the Liberal Party.

J
Julia GillardPoliticianLeft

Julia Gillard served as the first female Prime Minister of Australia.

L
Louise BurgeActivistLean Right

Louise Burge was an independent candidate for Farrer in 2010 and is now considering supporting One Nation.

M
Matt CanavanPoliticianLean Right

Matt Canavan is the leader of the National Party, who replaced David Littleproud.

M
Melissa McIntoshPoliticianRight

Melissa McIntosh is the Liberal shadow minister for women.

M
Michelle MilthorpePolitician

Michelle Milthorpe is a local independent candidate in the Farrer by-election.

N
Nigel FaragePoliticianRight

Nigel Farage is a British politician known for his role in the UK Independence Party and his stance on Brexit.

P
Pauline HansonPoliticianRight

Pauline Hanson is an Australian politician and leader of the One Nation party.

R
Raissa ButkowskiPoliticianRight

Liberal candidate in the Farrer by-election.

S
Sussan LeyPoliticianRight

Sussan Ley is the Leader of the Opposition in Australia.

T
Tom HuntPoliticianRight

Former Conservative MP for the UK seat of Ipswich and advisor to One Nation.

All Coverage

Australian by-election a litmus test for right-wing One Nation Party
BBC Newsvia rss 1 quote 1 person

Victory for the populist party in Farrer, New South Wales, would see One Nation's first MP elected to Australia's national parliament.

100%
UK Tory MP who defected to Reform advises One Nation in Australian byelection campaign
The Guardianvia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

Former UK Conservative MP Tom Hunt, now with Nigel Farage's Reform party, is advising One Nation in their campaign for the Farrer by-election, highlighting international support for the party's populist agenda.

80%
Disenfranchised Farrer voters turn out in droves to consider One Nation
ABC Newsvia ai 3 quotes 3 persons

Hundreds of Farrer residents attended a One Nation community meeting in Gerogery, expressing dissatisfaction with traditional parties and openness to alternative options in the upcoming by-election.

80%
One Nation candidate contesting Sussan Ley’s seat likened Julia Gillard to ‘non-productive old cow’
The Guardianvia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

David Farley, One Nation's candidate for the Farrer by-election, faced controversy after making derogatory remarks about former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, which he later claimed were made in jest.

80%
‘Would like to share some thoughts’: One Nation candidate David Farley’s previous involvement with independent movement revealed
The Guardianvia ai 3 quotes 1 person

Documents reveal that David Farley, One Nation's candidate for the Farrer by-election, had previously engaged with the independent Voices campaign, raising questions about his political affiliations and strategies.

80%
One Nation scores historic win in Farrer by-election
The Guardianvia ai 3 quotes 3 persons

One Nation candidate David Farley secured a significant victory in the Farrer by-election, marking the party's first-ever lower house seat in the federal parliament.

80%
One Nation scores historic win in Farrer by-election
ABC Newsvia ai 3 quotes 3 persons

David Farley of One Nation won the Farrer by-election, becoming the first member of the party elected to the House of Representatives.

80%
One Nation’s David Farley wins Farrer by-election in NSW
ABC Newsvia ai

David Farley of One Nation has won the Farrer by-election, marking the party's first-ever lower house seat in the federal parliament.

80%
Waking up in One Nation country: after the Coalition demolition, voters wait to see if Pauline Hanson’s party can deliver
The Guardianvia ai 1 quote 1 person

Voters in Farrer are now looking to see if One Nation can fulfill its promises following their historic victory in the by-election.

80%
Through the Farrer looking glass, major parties fade as One Nation and independents come into focus
The Guardianvia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

Pauline Hanson's One Nation party is poised to win the Farrer by-election, with independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe also gaining traction, signaling a shift in voter preferences away from traditional major parties.

80%
Farrer presents One Nation as a genuine electoral threat rather than just a protest
ABC Newsvia ai 2 quotes 2 persons

The Farrer by-election results suggest that One Nation is emerging as a serious electoral force, moving beyond its image as a protest party.

80%