Early results show One Nation on track to win Farrer byelection

One Nation appeared on track for its first ever lower house victory on Saturday night, with early results showing Pauline Hanson’s insurgent party taking the lead in the Farrer byelection. Irrigator David Farley looked well placed to beat independent Michelle Milthorpe in the closely watched race, which would translate One Nation’s dramatic rise in public support since last year’s federal election to a clear result in parliament and further weaken Angus Taylor’s depleted Liberal party . Early booths in small rural communities showed strong support for One Nation , with the Liberal vote tanking, compared with last year’s federal election. Milthorpe’s vote was also down, but is expected to be stronger around Albury, the main population centre in the seat. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Picking up the regional New South Wales electorate held by former opposition leader Sussan Ley for a generation would be the first time voters have handed One Nation a lower house seat in an election or byelection. Hanson, elected to parliament as an independent in 1996, founded the populist party in 1997, while Nationals defector Barnaby Joyce joined One Nation last year while already an MP. The Liberal candidate, Raissa Butkowski, and the Nationals’ Brad Robertson were never considered strong chances to win, despite the Coalition parties holding Farrer for its entire 76-year history. Labor opted not to contest the race. …