One Nation eyes Western Sydney after historic Farrer by-election win

Lead

One Nation has won its first seat in the House of Representatives, claiming victory in the Farrer by-election earlier this month. The result has emboldened the party, with high-profile recruit Barnaby Joyce declaring, "Western Sydney, here we come," as the party sets its sights on the region ahead of the next electoral contests.

The win has also delivered a stark warning to the Liberal Party, whose primary vote crashed to 12.4 per cent in the long-held Liberal seat. Shadow Foreign Minister Ted O'Brien acknowledged the scale of the defeat, saying the Liberals "got a kicking" and that the party needs to learn lessons from the result.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the by-election has highlighted different aspects of the story. ABC Australia focused on the political fallout for the Liberal Party and the personal motivations of voters in Western Sydney, while The Guardian — World emphasised controversies surrounding One Nation's candidate and a significant donation to party leader Pauline Hanson.

Across the coverage, a common thread emerges: One Nation's victory in Farrer is seen as a pivotal moment, prompting the party to aggressively target Western Sydney, an area where voter frustration with the major parties appears to be growing.

Key Claims

One Nation's Historic Win and Western Sydney Push

One Nation's victory in the Farrer by-election marked a historic first — the party's inaugural seat in the House of Representatives. Barnaby Joyce, a former Nationals leader who now sits as an One Nation MP, said the party would shift its attention to Western Sydney following the win. "Western Sydney, here we come," he declared, as reported by ABC Australia.

The party's ambitions in Western Sydney are already taking shape. Silvana Rota, a resident of Edensor Park in Sydney's south-west, told ABC Australia she is planning to switch her vote to One Nation. A former Labor voter, Rota expressed deep frustration with public transport services near her home, describing the area as a "black hole" for investment. She also cited the lack of affordable housing as her biggest concern, noting that her adult daughter is looking to move to Tasmania due to housing costs.

"No way am I ever voting Labor again," Rota said. "I've had enough." She added that she plans to "give them a go," referring to One Nation.

Liberal Party's Struggles

The Farrer by-election delivered a bruising result for the Liberal Party, with its primary vote collapsing to 12.4 per cent. Ted O'Brien, the Shadow Foreign Minister, acknowledged the defeat in comments carried by ABC Australia. "There's no doubt that as the alternate parties for government, we got a kicking," O'Brien said. He dismissed the idea that Liberal leadership changes alone were responsible for the fall in support, instead pointing to broader concerns about the direction of the country and the economy.

"The problem is not Pauline [Hanson], the problem is the direction of our country and people are becoming poorer as a nation, we're becoming more divided, our economy is becoming weaker," O'Brien said. He stressed that the party needs to develop "the policies for the times" to address cost-of-living concerns.

Controversies Surrounding One Nation

The Guardian — World reported on two controversies that have emerged in the wake of the by-election campaign. First, One Nation's candidate in Farrer, David Farley, contradicted party policy on immigration during a candidate forum. When asked whether Australia's net overseas migration of 306,000 last year was too many, Farley responded, "No, it's probably not." One Nation's stated policy is a cap of 130,000 migrants per year.

Barnaby Joyce downplayed the slip-up, attributing it to "the pressure of a campaign." He said Farley "agrees" with the party's policy of 130,000, and that "when you're a candidate and you're on the beat," such missteps can occur.

Second, The Guardian reported that Gina Rinehart's company gifted Pauline Hanson a new private plane worth more than $1.5 million, to be used in the lead-up to the next federal election. Joyce played down the significance of the donation, suggesting that journalists were more interested in it than ordinary voters.

Perspectives

One Nation / Barnaby Joyce

Barnaby Joyce framed the Farrer victory as a mandate for the party's policies and a springboard for further gains. He dismissed concerns about his candidate's immigration comments as campaign pressure and downplayed the significance of the Rinehart donation, arguing that voters are focused on other issues.

Liberal Party / Ted O'Brien

Ted O'Brien acknowledged the "kicking" the Liberals received in Farrer, attributing the loss to dissatisfaction with the national direction and economic conditions. He called on his party to refocus on solving problems and developing policies that resonate with voters.

Voters / Silvana Rota

Silvana Rota, a former Labor voter, represents a broader sentiment of frustration in Western Sydney. Her concerns about public transport, housing affordability, and energy bills have led her to abandon her traditional party allegiance and consider One Nation as an alternative.