One Nation infighting and Farrer byelection candidate David Farley’s shifting party loyalties
Consensus Summary
The Farrer NSW byelection on May 9, 2026, pits One Nation’s David Farley against independent Michelle Milthorpe, both seen as frontrunners in the former Liberal seat. Farley’s candidacy has been scrutinized due to his past affiliations with Labor, where he was a branch member and donated in 2023, and his prior ties to the NSW Nationals. Both sources confirm his shifting loyalties were exposed by the Sydney Morning Herald in April, raising questions about his commitment to One Nation. Farley’s background as an agribusiness consultant and former cotton farmer aligns more with the Nationals’ rural profile, though he now champions One Nation’s anti-net-zero policies and opposes water buy-backs under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Internal divisions within One Nation, highlighted by Nationals leader Matt Canavan, suggest instability, with 27 of 37 elected MPs reportedly leaving within a year. Farley’s cautious approach contrasts with One Nation’s usual rhetoric, though he remains aligned on key issues like immigration and energy. The byelection outcome could reshape conservative representation in rural NSW, with water policy and workforce shortages emerging as critical themes.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- David Farley is the One Nation candidate running in the Farrer NSW byelection scheduled for May 9, 2026
- Farley previously attempted to join Labor as a branch member in 2021 and donated to the party’s election fund as late as 2023
- Farley was also a one-time NSW Nationals member and considered running for the Nationals in 2018
- Michelle Milthorpe is Farley’s closest rival in the Farrer byelection, with both seen as frontrunners
- Farrer is a rural NSW seat formerly held by Liberal MP Sussan Ley
- Farley’s past party affiliations were revealed by the Sydney Morning Herald in April 2026
- Farley has criticized One Nation’s internal divisions, stating ‘Democracy doesn’t live in a museum. It actually lives in a gymnasium’
- Farley opposes net-zero policies and renewable energy, aligning with One Nation’s stance
- Farley advocates for ending water buy-backs under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and demands a royal commission into the program
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Matt Canavan, Nationals leader, called One Nation a party that ‘struggles to stay together,’ noting 27 of 37 One Nation MPs elected in 2025 left within a year
- Canavan said voters should consider One Nation’s lack of confidence in Farley ahead of the election
- James Ashby, One Nation chief of staff, revealed Pauline Hanson may step down from the Senate to contest a lower house seat, possibly Farrer, if Barnaby Joyce recontests New England
- Farley’s past links to Labor were reported by Nine Newspapers, citing anonymous sources
- Farley met Michelle Milthorpe to discuss water policy, which influenced part of her final policy platform
- Farley described Julia Gillard as a ‘non-productive old cow’ in past comments, which he said made him culturally unfit for Labor
- A former associate described Farley as ‘more intelligent but less colourful’ than Bob Katter, comparing him to a ‘tempered’ One Nation figure
- Farley used the term ‘assimilation’ in discussing immigration policy, a term linked to White Australia and Stolen Generation policies
- Farley spoke at a 2021 conference on regenerative farming, acknowledging climate change’s role in food security and the Paris Agreement
- Farley’s water advocacy group, Speak Up 4 Water, focuses on climate change impacts on water security in the region
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Newscomau states Farley ‘failed to inform’ Pauline Hanson and James Ashby about his Labor links, while the Guardian frames it as Farley ‘admitted to flirting with’ Labor but not formally joining until 2021
- Newscomau implies Farley’s Labor membership was confirmed by Nine Newspapers’ anonymous sources, while the Guardian attributes the 2023 donation claim to Nine Newspapers without direct confirmation from Farley
- Newscomau quotes Canavan saying 27 of 37 One Nation MPs left within a year of being elected, but the Guardian does not provide this specific statistic
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