Former Agribusiness CEO to Run for One Nation in Farrer By-Election

Former agribusiness CEO David Farley will run as the conservative-leaning One Nation’s candidate for the closely watched Farrer by-election.

The vast New South Wales regional electorate will go to the polls on May 9 after former Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who held the seat since 2001, quit parliament in February after losing the Liberal Party leadership to Angus Taylor.

Farley, 69, is a Narrandera-based agribusiness and irrigation professional with an understanding of the Murray-Darling Basin, a critical water issue that has challenged successive governments.

Farley has worked in the United States, South Africa, and the former Soviet Union. He is also a father of three and grandfather of seven.

“It’s going to give our electorate in particular, which is so important to the nation of Australia, a chance to focus on what’s good for Farrer is ultimately good for Australia,” he told media in Albury during One Nation’s announcement.

“I’ll focus on smarter water reform policies so irrigation industries across the Basin can prosper and communities in Farrer can thrive,” he said.

“I want to strengthen and revive regional hospitals, children’s healthcare and aged care facilities.”

Rice, cotton, and grape growers in the Farrer electorate have consistently complained about how water is allocated from the Basin, as well as its costs.

Farley, who previously chaired the Speak Up 4 Water, says Australian water resources should be treated as a sovereign asset, not just an environmental one.

“Having water recognised as a Sovereign Security Asset will force and reframe the architecture and scaffolding of which the [Murray-Darlin Basin Plan] review is conducted,” he wrote on Facebook.

“The current legislation, policy, and plan is a debt funded water extraction plan—not fit for purpose [for] 2026 Australia’s growing aspirational population.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson described Farley as “an exemplary representative for Farrer communities and the businesses and industries which drove the electorate’s economy.

“David Farley has deep roots in the region and a strong background in business and irrigated agriculture,” she said in a statement.

Hanson said the same issues in Farrer were reflected nationally including cost of living, housing, net zero, and mass migration.

The 4-Way Contest for Farrer

Farrer and the South Australian state elections will be closely watched amid a rapid surge in popularity for One Nation since late last year across multiple polls.

Pollster Anthony Green says despite Farrer being a historically strong seat for the Liberal Party, former MP Ley’s margins have fallen over time compared to independent candidates.

Green calls it a “very messy by-election” for new Liberal leader Taylor.

“Under the Coalition agreement, the Nationals did not contest Farrer while Ley was member,” Green wrote on his blog in February.

“Labor may contest the by-election, but the party has not reached a quarter of the primary vote since 2007,” he said. “More likely Labor would sit out the contest and leave the field free for a conservative slugfest.”

Some early signs suggest the Nationals, climate change-focused Teal independent Michelle Milthorpe, and One Nation will vie for victory with the Liberal Party unlikely to claw back the seat.

Independent MP Helen Dalton, who was approached by One Nation, has ruled herself out of the race.

Latest polling from Roy Morgan in March shows One Nation’s support has risen nationally once again—this time by 1.5 points to 22 percent overall.