Politics With Michelle Grattan: Antony Green On How Farrer's 'Breakout' By-Election Will Make History

(MENAFN- The Conversation)

Early voting is now in full swing for the coming Farrer election on May 9. The by-election is being framed as a temperature check of the right in federal politics, given the rise of One Nation and the collapse of the Liberal and National parties.

The competition in the southwestern New South Wales seat is mainly between a high-profile independent, Michelle Milthorpe, and One Nation's David Farley. Key campaign issues include health, water management, climate projects, and the current oil shock and ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

In this podcast, we spoke to veteran election analyst Antony Green about why this by-election is so nationally significant, including ahead of Victoria's coming state election.

We also spoke to Milthorpe and, for One Nation's perspective, Barnaby Joyce. (Farley, who spoke about being One Nation's local candidate when we visited Farrer last month, declined an interview.)

'A complete diversion' from history: Green

Antony Green has covered more than 90 Australian elections over nearly four decades. He highlighted how unusual this Farrer by-election is, contrasting it with generations of elections before it.

Green said if One Nation wins this by-election, it would be their first victory in a federal lower house seat – and give them significant momentum nationally, especially leading up to November's state election in Victoria.

Support 'from around the country': Milthorpe

Independent Michelle Milthorpe, who's running for Farrer for the second time, was not willing to be drawn on how much money her campaign had spent far, but said she's been“overwhelmed” by individual donations.

Pressed on how much political crowdfunding group Climate 200 had donated, Milthorpe replied“$20,000” – and contrasted that with the high-profile support given to her opponents, such as billionaire Gina Rinehart's support for One Nation.

Read more: View from The Hill: Taylor defends putting One Nation ahead of Farrer independent as 'least worst option'

'Australians are changing their votes': Joyce

Asked about One Nation's rising popularity and controversies it's faced during this campaign – notably the revelation that its Farrer candidate had flirted with Labor in the past – former Nationals leader turned One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said there's nothing new about people trying to bring One Nation down.

Asked if Gina Rinehart had given any support to One Nation's Farrer campaign, Joyce said he didn't know.

Read more: Politics with Michelle Grattan: why Farrer is a key test for One Nation vs the Coalition

MENAFN29042026000199003603ID1111047190