One Nation MP David Farley has been officially sworn into the House of Representatives, marking a triumphant moment for the conservative party following his resounding by-election victory in the New South Wales seat of Farrer.
Mr Farley took his oath alongside Barnaby Joyce, currently the only other One Nation representative in the lower house, during a ceremony at Parliament House around midday on Tuesday. The 69-year-old agribusiness consultant secured the seat last month, becoming the first One Nation candidate ever elected to the House of Representatives. Mr Joyce defected from the Nationals to One Nation in December.
During the swearing-in, Mr Farley was joined by One Nation Senators Pauline Hanson, Sean Bell, and Malcolm Roberts, who attended to show their support. The event was captured by photographers, highlighting the significance of the occasion for the party.
Landslide Victory in Farrer
Mr Farley achieved a decisive win in the Farrer by-election, defeating independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe with a two-candidate-preferred vote of 57 to 43 percent. This victory underscores the growing appeal of One Nation in regional Australia.
Polling Surge for One Nation
The new MP's first sitting day coincides with the latest Redbridge/Accent poll showing One Nation's primary vote surging to 31 percent, ahead of Labor on 28 percent and the Coalition on 20 percent. The poll also indicated that Labor's primary vote has dropped by 3 percent following the party's decision to break pre-election promises regarding capital gains tax and negative gearing.
Plans for Collaboration
After his win in May, Mr Farley told Sky News that he and Mr Joyce would work together to advance One Nation motions and reforms. “We will both be able to sponsor each other's bills, if it's a private member's bill to get up,” Mr Farley said. When asked about potential strategies to sway voters from Labor and the Coalition, he emphasised the party's focus on progress. “You can call it wargaming, but the reality is, it's advancing. We just want to advance regional Australia and Australia as fast as we can,” he stated.
Nationals Leader's Caution
Following Mr Farley's emphatic victory, Nationals Leader Matt Canavan advised his party colleagues not to be swayed by political trends, likening One Nation's rise to a passing wave. “I don’t jump on bandwagons or ride on waves, because waves ultimately crash,” he said. “I just stick to my guns.”
The swearing-in of David Farley marks a new chapter for One Nation in the federal parliament, with the party now holding two seats in the House of Representatives and a growing influence in Australian politics.
