One Nation wins Farrer by-election, but influence in parliament questioned

One Nation's David Farley has captured the Farrer electorate, a seat historically held by the Coalition, in a by-election that signals a shift in voter sentiment. Many constituents in the sprawling southern New South Wales rural electorate expressed frustration with mainstream politicians, feeling overlooked and unheard. They cast their votes for Farley, who promised significant policy changes in areas like water, electricity, immigration, and health.

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Even though he's not being consulted on legislation and he's not in the room that's making decisions on behalf of the government, using that to bring attention to Farrer and its issues I think could be really beneficial.

Now, as the national media spotlight moves on, these voters are waiting to see if their gamble on One Nation will yield tangible results. Farley enters the federal parliament as one of only two One Nation lower house MPs. Political analysts suggest that while he may lack direct power in legislation, his position offers a unique platform to advocate for Farrer's specific concerns.

"Even though he's not being consulted on legislation and he's not in the room that's making decisions on behalf of the government, using that to bring attention to Farrer and its issues I think could be really beneficial," said Jill Sheppard, an associate professor at the Australian National University. She noted that Farley can raise issues in ways a Coalition member might not be able to.

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David Farley can talk about issues that someone like Sussan Ley wasn't able to because she was constrained by being a member of the parliamentary Liberal party.

However, Farley's rookie status has been evident. He recently admitted to accidentally siding with the Greens and teal MPs on a vote concerning fuel tax credit rebates for large mining companies, a decision he acknowledged was not in line with constituent expectations. He assured voters this would not happen again, stating, "The reality is you have got to own the mistake, manage the mistake and move on."

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The reality is you have got to own the mistake, manage the mistake and move on. We can't live and die off one mistake.

Despite this misstep, Farley remains focused on his agenda, expressing a desire to build support across the political spectrum, including with the Coalition, crossbench, and even the Labor government. He believes the sentiment seen in Farrer is common in many electorates, suggesting a broader dissatisfaction with traditional politics.

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I can tell you the dust is off already and we are moving on, we have got an agenda we want to prosecute across the parliament.