In a strategic move for the Farrer byelection scheduled for May 9, the Liberal and National parties have decided to preference One Nation's David Farley over independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe. This decision could hinder Milthorpe's chances, as both parties view her and Farley as the frontrunners in the contest. The Coalition will instruct supporters to rank Farley ahead of Milthorpe on their how-to-vote cards, despite having launched negative advertisements against One Nation. Nationals leader Matt Canavan stated that this preference is due to Milthorpe's association with the teal independent movement, which supports policies like net zero emissions. Milthorpe, who previously reduced the margin in Farrer to 6.2%, questioned the rationale behind the Coalition's decision to preference a party that could potentially undermine them. Recent polling suggests that One Nation's support may be waning, although Canavan remains cautious about the implications of these results. He emphasized the need for the Coalition to rebuild trust with the electorate after recent challenges.