‘Would like to share some thoughts’: One Nation candidate David Farley’s previous involvement with independent movement revealed

Documents seen by Guardian Australia show Farley – who is expected to win the Farrer byelection ahead of Michelle Milthorpe on Saturday – had been keen to meet with the independent Voices campaign. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP View image in fullscreen Documents seen by Guardian Australia show Farley – who is expected to win the Farrer byelection ahead of Michelle Milthorpe on Saturday – had been keen to meet with the independent Voices campaign. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP One Nation candidate David Farley sought involvement with independent ‘Voices’ movement Exclusive: Farley discussed preferences and suggested platform before Voices group endorsed his rival Michelle Milthorpe as its candidate Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast One Nation’s Farrer candidate, David Farley, sought to cooperate with the community independent “Voices” movement before the last election, including discussing preferences and suggesting a platform for a House and Senate campaign, before the group endorsed Michelle Milthorpe as their candidate. Documents seen by Guardian Australia show Farley – who is expected to win the Farrer byelection ahead of Milthorpe on Saturday – had been keen to meet with the independent Voices campaign in 2023 and 2024, including buying a ticket to their event, sharing ideas, and even discussing election preferences. “Would like to share some thoughts on a ‘Farrer platform’ for a campaign for both NSW federal Senate and the seat of Farrer,” Farley texted a Voices of Farrer coordinator in February 2024, ahead of a scheduled meeting. Farley’s political history has come under scrutiny during the Farrer byelection, sparked by the resignation of former Liberal leader Sussan Ley. The Nine newspapers reported Farley had approached Labor about running in the 2022 election, and in 2025 had endorsed Milthorpe’s campaign to unseat Ley, calling her a “straight shooter, good woman” in a Facebook post. A One Nation spokesperson conceded Farley had been on a political “journey” before joining Pauline Hanson’s party. Guardian Australia has seen texts, emails and other documents showing Farley’s involvement with the Voices Of grassroots movement – which eventually endorsed Milthorpe in 2024 instead – was more extensive. “Would welcome discussion when we meet Tuesday on the proposed management of preferences, whose and how to secure them,” Farley wrote in an email to a Voices Of Farrer coordinator in February 2024. At the time, Ley was the deputy Liberal leader to Peter Dutton. She had won Farrer on a 66-34 two-party margin at the 2022 election. “Sussan Ley with the position of deputy leader of the Liberal party and two-decade incumbent for Farrer will not go without a serious fight, that will be fought with a well-funded purse [sic],” Farley wrote to the Voices coordinator. “Next federal election must be on or before 27th September 2025 ~ 19 month away or earlier, time is of the essence as D day isn’t clearly transparent [sic].” Milthorpe would be endorsed by Voices of Farrer later in 2024, but Ley retained the seat on a 56-44 margin. Records from a ticketing site show Farley reserved a ticket to a Voices of Farrer event, called “Gathering In Griffith”, held in September 2023, and added a small donation. In a follow-up message to event organisers, Farley wrote that he had booked conflicting meetings and would not be able to attend after all, but that he would “welcome meeting the team at Voices For Farrer in the near future”. The Voices movement runs grassroots processes to find local candidates for independent campaigns for office. Inspired by former Indi MP Cathy McGowan’s successful local campaign to unseat Liberal Sophie Mirabella in 2013, similar Voices groups have been established in electorates nationwide, helping support the election of community independents including Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender, Nicolette Boele and Sophie Scamps. Some Voices candidates have also attracted funding from Climate 200. A One Nation spokesperson did not dispute these messages or Farley’s engagement with Voices Of when contacted for comment, replying instead that “most Australians have a history of voting or supporting other political parties throughout their life.” “Many One Nation voters have emerged as a result of the failings of Labor and the coalition. The uni-party have lost many of their once loyal supporters who have found a new home with One Nation and we welcome those people who put Australia first,” the spokesperson said in a response. “I have no doubt David Farley has taken that same journey in [his] search for a party that represents Australian values and it’s fantastic to see he, like so many others, have chosen One Nation.” Some campaign material from One Nation, as well as from the Liberals and Nationals, has highlighted Milthorpe’s links to Climate 200; Pauline Hanson referred to her as a “fake independent”. Farley’s shifting party affiliation has also been highlighted in campaign material, with Nationals’ corflutes picturing him in a Labor T-shirt and Facebook videos portraying him as a chameleon. Farley, in a candidate’s forum at Charles Sturt University last week, did not resile from his shifting party allegiances over recent years, saying he’d looked at several political options. “I explored the path of independents down there and looked at, can you go into Canberra as an independent without the machinery behind you? And I said no.” In a 27 April Facebook post, he wrote: “Like many Australians, I explored my options before finding a political home that actually reflects my values, and I make no apology for that.” In the same CSU forum, he appeared to contradict One Nation immigration policy and endorse Labor’s current net overseas migration number. Farley said he wanted to find a party with “courage and tenacity”, which he claims he found in One Nation. He said he “culturally didn’t fit” in the Labor party, “and I got out of the door”. “It’s 2026. Democracy doesn’t live in a museum, it actually lives in a gymnasium, it’s active … where you place your energies for public service needs to be matched and aligned.” Explore more on these topics Farrer byelection 2026 One Nation Australian politics New South Wales news Share Reuse this content