One Nation’s David Farley has emerged as the new federal Member for Farrer following a decisive victory in the by-election on Saturday, May 9.
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The result marks a historic shift in the electorate, delivering One Nation its first lower house seat in Federal Parliament and ending the Coalition’s long-standing hold on Farrer.
First preference results from all 94 polling places, including postal votes, showed Mr Farley secured 38,257 votes (39.42 per cent of the primary vote), representing a 32.82 per cent swing to One Nation.
Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe finished a strong second with 27,562 votes (28.40 per cent), recording an 8.44 per cent swing in her favour.
Mr Farley addressed supporters at a One Nation election event in Albury on Saturday night.
“We listened, you listened, you agreed, and you spoke tonight, so thank you Farrer,” he said.
“One Nation has reached the end of its beginning. We’re going through the ceiling from here.”
He also outlined his key priorities for the electorate going forward, including cost-of-living relief through changes to net-zero policies, improved water management, better access to healthcare, and reduced immigration.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson also spoke at the event.
“This is not only a win for Farrer, it’s a win for the rest of Australia,” she said.
“We're going to look forward to the future and the people out there who may be watching, we're coming after those other seats.”
Saturday’s results also showed a significant collapse in the Coalition vote, with a primary swing of more than 31 per cent against the Liberals.
The Liberal Party’s Raissa Butkowski received 11,998 votes (12.36 per cent), while Brad Robertson of the National Party polled 9471 votes (9.76 per cent).
Combined, the Coalition parties attracted just over 22 per cent of the primary vote.
At the Moama pre-polling centre, Mr Farley secured 44.63 per cent of the primary vote, marking a 39.4 per cent swing towards One Nation.
Ms Milthorpe received 19.06 per cent, while Ms Butkowski received 18.26 per cent, representing a 40.49 per cent swing against the Liberals. Mr Robertson attracted 374 votes, or 11.52 per cent.
In the two-candidate preferred count at the Moama pre-poll centre, Mr Farley secured 2,271 votes (69.94 per cent), defeating Ms Milthorpe who received 976 votes (30.06 per cent).
On election day at Moama polling booth at Moama Public School, Mr Farley again topped the poll with 48.1 per cent of the primary vote, a 43.32 per cent swing towards One Nation.
Ms Milthorpe polled 20.1 per cent, while Ms Butkowski received 15.22 per cent and Mr Robertson attracted 4.78 per cent.
The two-candidate preferred count on election day in Moama showed Mr Farley securing 671 votes (65.46 per cent) ahead of Ms Milthorpe who received 354 votes (34.54 per cent).
At the Mathoura booth, Mr Farley also dominated with 234 votes (57.35 per cent) of the primary vote.
Ms Milthorpe received 69 votes (16.91 per cent), Mr Robertson polled 38 votes (9.31 per cent) and Ms Butkowski 30 votes (7.35 per cent).
In the two-candidate preferred count at Mathoura, Mr Farley secured 306 votes (75 percent), defeating Ms Milthorpe on 102 votes (25 per cent).
While voters in Moama and Mathoura largely gave their first preference to Mr Farley or Mrs Milthorpe, with Coalition candidates trailing behind, support for minor candidates varied between the two towns.
In Mathoura, Legalise Cannabis candidate Aimee Lee Pearson and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Peter Sinclair were neck and neck, each polling 2.45 per cent of first preference votes.
Jamie Bonnefin of Gerard Rennick’s People First followed on 1.72 per cent.
Sustainable Australia’s Lucas Ellis received 0.46 per cent alongside Independents Roger Woodward and Gary Pappin.
At the lower end of the field, Greens candidate Richard Hendrie received just one vote, while Family First candidate Rebecca Scriven did not register a vote.
At Moama’s pre-poll centre, Mr Hendrie performed better with 1.72 per cent of the vote, followed by Ms Pearson on 1.36 per cent.
Mr Sinclair and Mr Bonnefin recorded 0.92 per cent and 0.71 per cent respectively, while Mr Woodward, Mr Pappin and Ms Scriven each polled 0.46 per cent, followed closely by Mr Ellis on 0.43 per cent.
On election day in Moama, results shifted only slightly as Mr Hendrie’s votes increased to 3.32 per cent and Ms Pearson’s to 2.05 per cent.
Ms Scriven and Mr Sinclair both recorded 1.95 per cent, followed by Mr Bonnefin on 1.07 per cent.
At the lower end, Mr Pappin received 0.78 per cent, Mr Woodward 0.39 per cent and Mr Ellis 0.29 per cent.