Coalition Parties to Preference One Nation Over Independent Candidate in Farrer Byelection
Liberals and Nationals to preference One Nation in blow to Michelle Milthorpe in Farrer byelection
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
In the upcoming Farrer byelection on May 9, the Liberal and National parties will preference One Nation's David Farley over independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe. This decision could significantly impact Milthorpe's chances, as both parties aim to consolidate support against her, despite recent negative campaigning against One Nation.
- 01The Liberals and Nationals will preference One Nation's David Farley over Michelle Milthorpe in the Farrer byelection.
- 02Milthorpe is seen as a key contender, having reduced the previous margin in the seat.
- 03The Coalition's decision comes despite negative ads targeting One Nation.
- 04Nationals leader Matt Canavan criticized Milthorpe's ties to the teal independent movement.
- 05Recent polls indicate a slight decline in support for One Nation.
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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.
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The preference decision could affect voter turnout and support dynamics in Farrer, influencing the future political landscape in the region.
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