“You voted for change you can trust, and I promise, that life can get better.”
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That was the message from David Farley on Saturday night after political commentators called the Farrer by-election for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation just before 8pm.
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.
Farrer was established in 1949, and until now, has always been served by a National or Liberal member.
While the Australian Electoral Commission is yet to formally declare the polls, the results on Saturday night were enough for the call to be made less than two hours after polling centres closed.
“I will work every single day to repay the trust you’ve placed in me,” Mr Farley said on Saturday night.
“Farrer is in my heart, and it drives everything I do.
“Our One Nation team is committed to standing up for Farrer and for Australia.
“If we’re going to return our nation to prosperity, we need to lead with courage and determination.
“Through hard work, we can build a stronger future, and that work starts right here in Farrer.”
Farley has 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 addressed the result on Saturday.
“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.”
First preference results from all 94 polling places, including postal votes, showed Mr Farley secured 38,919 votes (39.45 per cent of the primary vote), representing a 32.85 per cent swing to One Nation.
Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe finished a strong second with 28,003 votes (28.39 per cent), recording an 8.43 per cent swing in her favour.
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 12,2151 votes (12.38 per cent), while Brad Robertson of the National Party polled 9599 votes (9.73 per cent).
Combined, the Coalition parties attracted just over 22 per cent of the primary vote.
Results at the Southern Riverina polling booths were as follows:
Barooga pre-polling: Farley - 681 votes (48.61 per cent); Milthorpe 305 (21.77 per cent); Robertson 189 (13.49 per cent); Butkowski - 143 (10.21 per cent).
Barooga: Farley - 143 votes (44.69 per cent); Milthorpe - 77 (24.06 per cent); Botkowski - 38 (11.88 per cent); Robertson - 31 (9.96 per cent).
Berrigan: Farley - 274 votes (47.74 per cent); Milthorpe - 114 (19.86 per cent); Robertson - 88 (15.33 per cent); Butkowski - 54 (9.41).
Blighty: Farley - 86 votes (76.79 per cent of primary votes; Robertson - 12 votes (10.71 per cent), Milthorpe - eight votes (7.14 per cent); Butkowski - four votes (3.57 per cent).
Coleambally: Farley - 260 votes (56.89 per cent); Milthorpe - 66 (14.44 per cent); Robertson - 61 (13.35 per cent); Butkowski - 33 (7.22 per cent).
Darlington Point: Farley - 229 votes (44.21 per cent); Milthorpe - 120 (23.17 per cent); Butkowski - 48 (9.27 per cent); Robertson - 39 (7.53 per cent).
Finley: Farley - 487 votes (47.23 per cent); Milthorpe - 210 (20.75 per cent); Robertson - 145 (14.33 per cent); Butkowski - 106 (10.47 per cent).
Jerilderie: Farley - 220 votes (50.11 per cent); Milthorpe - 77 (17.54 per cent); Robertson - 61 (13.9 per cent); Butkowski - 45 (10.25 per cent).
Tocumwal: Farley - 424 votes (44.12 per cent); Milthorpe - 210 (21.85); Robertson - 139 (14.46 per cent); Butkowski - 112 (11.65 per cent).
NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton welcomed the result, expressing faith in Mr Farley’s stance on water policy in particular.
“Now the Farrer election is over, and we finally have a water focused federal member, now the real work starts.
“There is only so much I can do in state parliament, and one of these barriers is holding South Australia accountable for their unnatural, unscientific, and economically destructive fake lakes.
“The results sent a very clear message to the government and the rest of Australia - if you do not appreciate and stand for the people who feed the nation, we don't stand for you.
“Rural Australia is sick of being treated as an afterthought, sick of being lectured from Sydney and Canberra by people who have never set foot on a working farm, sick of policies designed in city offices that destroy regional towns.
“If the major parties keep ignoring the regions, more seats will follow Farrer.
“I know David personally. He is a man of substance who has spent his life in agriculture and rural Australia.
“He understands what it takes to run a farm, raise a family, and build a community. He will work tirelessly for the people of Farrer, and they made the right call.”