Pauline Hanson's One Nation party has secured its first ever lower house seat in an Australian election, with candidate David Farley winning the Farrer byelection on Saturday. The victory came as the Coalition's vote collapsed in the seat previously held by former opposition leader Sussan Ley.
Farley is on track to win more than 40% of the primary vote, ahead of independent Michelle Milthorpe on about 28%. The combined primary vote for the Liberal and National parties struggled to reach 20%. Labor did not contest the byelection.
An emotional Hanson told a jubilant celebration in Albury: 'You are not going to be the forgotten people any more. We are proud Australians. We want our country back and that's what One Nation is about.' She pledged to unveil an energy policy focused on taking more money from gas exports and securing equity for taxpayers in resources companies.
Liberal leader Angus Taylor said the party would take 'hard lessons' from the result, hitting out at claims of 'mass migration' and attacking Labor's push for renewable energy. 'For too long, we have been a party of convenience, not of conviction, and that must change,' he said.
Independent MP Helen Haines, who holds the neighbouring seat of Indi, blamed a preference deal by Taylor and Nationals leader Matt Canavan for the outcome. The Coalition backed Farley over Milthorpe, who had financial backing from Simon Holmes à Court's Climate 200 organisation.
Political scientist Luke Mansillo from the University of Sydney said the result would redefine the political landscape, noting that 'those who cannot see a future have gone to extremes in a scream of desperation.'
