Liberals, Nationals to Preference One Nation Ahead of ‘Teal’ Candidate in Farrer

The centre-right Liberal and National parties will preference One Nation ahead of the Climate 200-backed “teal” candidate at the closely-watched Farrer by-election.

According to a uComms poll published in The Conversation, One Nation candidate David Farley is leading Teal candidate Michelle Milthorpe on the primary vote, by 30.9 percent to 30.0.

In an estimated preference count, One Nation could prevail with 52.7 percent of the overall vote compared to 47.3 percent.

The Farrer contest was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal Leader Sussan Ley after she was dumped for Angus Taylor in February.

The decision to preference One Nation was revealed in a “How to Vote” card on Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski’s webpage showing One Nation’s Farley positioned fourth ahead of Milthorpe on ninth.

In second place is Nationals candidate Brad Robertson, and in third, independent candidate Roger Woodward. How to Vote cards are aimed at influencing voters on how to complete their ballot papers.

“The Nationals are preferencing One Nation ahead of the teal backed candidate because she is backed by people that support net zero and water buybacks,” said Nationals Leader Matt Canavan on Facebook.

Meanwhile, One Nation have chosen to preference the Nationals second and the Liberal Party third, according to their website, with Milthorpe eleventh.

The Climate 200 sponsors a range of “independent” candidates across Australian elections, who all done similar teal-coloured promotional material and promote policies like net zero and more transparency in government.

One Nation’s Farley is a Riverina agri-businessperson born in Narradera with experience working in the United States, Africa, and the former Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, Liberal candidate Butkowski is a community lawyer with three degrees and serves as an Albury local councillor.

The by-election will be held on May 9.