David Farley joined the growing One Nation MP team in Canberra. He’s pictured with Sean Bell, Malcolm Roberts, Pauline Hanson, Barnaby Joyce and Tyron Whitten. Photo: David Farley Facebook.
One Nation MP David Farley is in the process of establishing electorate offices in Griffith and Albury after being officially sworn in as the Member for Farrer at Parliament House this week.
The 69-year-old says his key priorities are water and health in an electorate he believes has been neglected for too long.
“I’ve learned that a safe seat is an underinvested seat,” Mr Farley told Region.
Farrer remains a relatively safe seat, but now in One Nation hands after being held by the Coalition for more than 75 years.
The final count showed Mr Farley secured 58 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote, well ahead of his closest rival, independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe, on 42 per cent. The Liberals suffered a swing of more than 30 per cent following the resignation of former opposition leader Sussan Ley from federal politics.
Griffith proved key to Mr Farley’s electoral success and he will visit the irrigation city next week.
“I have my water team in Griffith and I’d like to catch up with the mayor and Griffith Business Chamber,” he said.
Mr Farley will have an allocation of six staff – three based in Griffith and three in Albury – and has already begun recruiting.
He said he wanted to start working for the people of Farrer as quickly as possible.
“I’m going to assume Sussan Ley’s old offices. If I wanted new offices, I’d be waiting six to eight months to get security and clearances,” he said.
“I’m going through a lot of induction on parliament and trying to educate myself so I’ll be as effective as possible.”
He said he would have liked an office in Deniliquin, eyeing the premises formerly occupied by former Nationals senator Perin Davey, who lost her place in parliament at last year’s election. However, the office has already been relinquished.
Living in Narrandera, Mr Farley expects to spend plenty of time behind the wheel covering an electorate larger than Ireland.
“There’s no air or rail route. I’ll be driving, it’s the logistics price of the job. I’m three hours to Canberra from Narrandera or Albury,” he said.
The full length of Farrer – from Albury to Pooncarie near the South Australian border – is about a six-and-a-half-hour drive.
Mr Farley will also visit Wagga Wagga this week to address the newly formed Riverina branch of One Nation.
Asked whether the party was targeting the neighbouring electorate of Riverina – held by Nationals MP Michael McCormack – at the next election, he said it was among many seats under consideration.
“We are looking at a lot of seats, there are 152 of them,” he said.
A national YouGov poll this week shows One Nation as Australia’s most popular political party – on 29 per cent of the primary vote, ahead of Labor on 26 per cent and the Coalition on 20 per cent.
Despite the threat his party poses to the establishment, the new MP said he had been welcomed by politicians from across the political spectrum during his first week in Canberra.
“It’s like the start of a football match, you shake hands and then get into it.”
Original Article published by Oliver Jacques on Region Riverina.
