Australia’s One Nation Party scores landmark parliamentary victory

Australia’s populist One Nation scores its first-ever lower house victory.

The far-right party’s winning candidate, David Farley, has advocated for stricter migration and farming reforms.

As per preliminary election results, Australia’s far-right "One Nation Party" has captured a seat in the country’s House of Representatives for the first time.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Saturday that former agribusiness consultant Farley is on course for a decisive victory in the special election for Australia’s southwestern division of Farrer, located in the New South Wales state.

The result marks the first time One Nation, founded by politician Pauline Hanson, has won a lower house seat in its 30-year history. Farley, speaking after his projected victory, said the party “has reached the end of its beginning” and is “going through the roof."

Previously, Farley has advocated for reduced migration and farming reforms and will hold the vacant seat left by the resignation in February of Sussan Ley, leader of the center-right Liberal Party.

Addressing his policy priorities, Farley said he would pursue an immigration policy based on the needs of Australia’s labor market, particularly in agriculture.

“We’re not going to implode any of our industries that are reliant on good quality, assimilating migrants into the country,” he said.

“But we’re not going to entertain people coming here and living off our balance sheet, our purse, and giving us nothing.

Farley also said he would work to bring down the cost of living. “We’re going to have policy that fits Australia, not the world,” he said.

The Labor Party holds 94 of 150 seats.

However, this new victory is in line with growing electoral support for far-right populist parties globally. 

Earlier this week, Britain’s populist right-wing Reform UK party made sweeping gains in local council elections at the expense of labor.