One Nation ejects ABC journalists ahead of Farrer by-election; party faces internal clashes
Consensus Summary
One Nation faced controversy ahead of the Farrer by-election on 2026-05-10 after its chief of staff, James Ashby, ejected ABC journalists from a press conference in Albury on 2026-05-05. Footage from Nine News showed Ashby and a volunteer removing the regional ABC crew, based in Wodonga, despite their claims of serving the local community. Pauline Hanson later questioned the decision, highlighting internal tensions. The by-election, triggered by Sussan Leyâs resignation, is seen as a pivotal test for One Nation, with candidate David Farley leading in polls to potentially end the Coalitionâs 77-year hold on the seat. Additional drama arose from a separate incident involving Hanson and Ashby outside a pre-poll booth, where a pensioner claimed assault, leading to conflicting statements and apologies.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- ABC journalists from the Goulburn-Murray division were ejected from a One Nation press conference in Albury on 2026-05-05 (Friday) before it began, as captured by Nine News footage.
- One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and her chief of staff James Ashby clashed over the decision to remove the ABC journalists, with Hanson later asking Ashby why they were ejected, saying 'They shouldnât have gone.'
- The Farrer by-election is scheduled for 2026-05-10 (Saturday), with One Nation candidate David Farley seen as the frontrunner to win the seat from the Coalition for the first time in its 77-year history.
- The ABC journalists questioned their removal by stating, 'We are a tax-funded organisation. We serve the local community,' and Ashby responded, 'Thatâs the ABC going guys. Bye-bye to the ABC.'
- Ashby told the ABC journalists to ask the ABCâs Canberra chief of staff for an explanation, and Hanson later confronted Ashby about the decision.
- The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal leader Sussan Ley, who previously held the seat.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- One Nation volunteer told ABC journalists to leave with the phrase, 'That doesnât matter, come on ⌠sweetheart, please.'
- Barnaby Joyce, now representing One Nation in the House of Representatives, previously won his seat of New England for the Nationals.
- Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski and Nationals hopeful Brad Robertson are given little chance of a shock win.
- A pensioner named Paterson filmed an argument between Hanson and Ashby outside an Albury pre-poll booth on 2026-05-06 (Wednesday), claiming he was assaulted after realizing he was being filmed.
- Farley condemned the incident, and Hanson initially apologized but later walked back her apology, saying she had not seen the full footage.
- Ashby blamed Paterson for the altercation, saying he had 'rage baited' the pensioner.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Newscomau states the by-election is a 'test for One Nation to turn its recent surge in opinion polls into seats,' while SMH and The Age do not explicitly mention opinion polls as a key focus.
- SMH and The Age mention that Hanson initially apologized for the incident with Paterson but later walked back her apology, while Newscomau does not detail this specific timeline.
Source Articles
A resurgent One Nation faces its first big electoral test in the Farrer by-election on Saturday
Pauline Hanson was left perplexed after a local ABC crew was kicked out of a press conference on the eve of the Farrer by-election.
Watch: Pauline Hanson and senior staffer clash over ejecting ABC journalists
The One Nation leader and her chief-of-staff clashed over his decision to kick the national broadcaster out of a media event on the eve of the Farrer byelection.
Watch: Pauline Hanson and senior staffer clash over ejecting ABC journalists
The One Nation leader and her chief-of-staff clashed over his decision to kick the national broadcaster out of a media event on the eve of the Farrer byelection.