Updated ,first published
One Nation’s candidate in the Farrer byelection has condemned “aggression of any form on the campaign trail” after one of his volunteers was filmed grabbing Liberal Senator James Paterson’s phone following a confrontation outside a polling booth in Albury.
The clash came as the pair disagreed over this masthead’s revelation that One Nation’s contender David Farley, a former Nationals member, had previously attempted to stand for the Labor Party and supported independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe at last year’s election.
Given Labor’s deep unpopularity in the south-west NSW seat, the Coalition has seized on the revelation as it fights to retain Sussan Ley’s former seat while disenchanted voters signal they will turn to either an ascendant One Nation or independent candidate.
It has put up campaign posters of Farley dressed in Labor merchandise in its attempt to deter voters from turning to One Nation.
In video footage of Wednesday’s interaction outside an Albury pre-poll booth – which was filmed by Paterson, seemingly without the volunteer’s awareness at the beginning – the senior Liberal senator and One Nation volunteer are discussing Farley’s history of supporting Labor.
Paterson insisted voters had a right to know about Farley’s political history, and asked the One Nation volunteer whether he agreed. The volunteer accused the Liberal senator of weaponising the information for the Coalition’s own gain.
“Liberal-National mob, you wouldn’t spend the money if you didn’t think it was going to be defamatory to change the vote. You’re a lying prick,” the volunteer said.
Paterson insisted it was not defamatory because it was true. The volunteer said it was “low” and said: “youse are shit scared”.
After two minutes, the volunteer asked whether Paterson was taking a video and grabbed the phone from his hand. “Don’t video me without my bloody knowledge mate,” he said.
Paterson responded: “That’s assault, you’ve just committed an assault … you just grabbed my phone off me, that’s an assault.”
Farley acknowledged the incident in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. “I was made aware of an incident which occurred at a polling booth in Albury today, involving a volunteer for my campaign, and an elected senator of the Liberal Party who I have personally spoken with to ensure he is ok,” he wrote in a Facebook statement posted alongside the video footage.
“I want to reaffirm my commitment to respectful behaviour and inclusive participation in our democratic process. I condemn in the strongest terms aggression of any form on the campaign trail, and I will not hesitate to act when made aware of bad behaviour.
“My campaign team will co-operate fully with a police investigation should the Liberal Party deem it necessary.”
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told Sky News on Wednesday evening that Farley had called Paterson to apologise. Hanson said the volunteer was “dismissed and sent home straight away”.
“I don’t know even if [the volunteer] is a member of the party, he’s a volunteer that’s working there on the booth. We don’t condone this sort of behaviour,” Hanson said.
Paterson, in a statement provided to this masthead, said: “Robust debate on polling booths is a healthy thing, but it should never get physical.”
“Anyone standing for public office has to accept legitimate scrutiny about their record, including One Nation. Voters have a right to know David Farley was a Labor member, aspiring candidate and donor before they make their decision about who represents them in Farrer,” Paterson said.
Farley dodges cameras amid scrutiny
Earlier this week, Farley dodged TV cameras as he faced questions over his long-term loyalty to Pauline Hanson. He had made fleeting appearances at polling booths on Tuesday after this masthead reported internal fears about whether he would stick with Hanson should he be elected to parliament.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan has branded him “fugitive Farley” after One Nation’s aspirant in the regional NSW seat raised his hand in the direction of local reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
Farley insisted upon his loyalty when asked if he would stick with One Nation ahead of a candidate’s forum on Monday night. “That’s the ultimate question every journalist has been asking me,” he said.
“I’m sticking with One Nation, it’s as simple as that.”
Canavan said: “Farley might not look like Harrison Ford, but he is doing a pretty good impression of The Fugitive. Farley the fugitive can run, but he can’t hide from the questions about his commitment to conservative causes.”
The Nationals leader has been campaigning in Farrer before Saturday’s byelection, which will put a spotlight on the fragmentation of the right.
Both Coalition parties are advising voters to direct preferences to Farley ahead of a Climate 200-backed independent.
With One Nation drawing nearly all its support from the Coalition, Taylor has moved to warn people in Farrer that a vote for One Nation will only diminish their chances of changing the government.
“If the vote sprays, Labor stays,” the opposition leader told this masthead in his office on Monday. “If you want to get rid of a bad Labor government, you’ve got to vote for the Coalition.”
Taylor has not been as firm as some of his Coalition colleagues, including Canavan, in attacking Hanson, who is leading the Coalition in all national polls. The Coalition parties are expecting to finish in third and fourth in Farrer, behind One Nation and independent Michelle Milthorpe.
Farley has clashed with senior party figures over his failure to tell them he had previously attempted to run for Labor and last year endorsed Milthorpe, now his Climate 200-funded rival. He has also contradicted One Nation’s immigration policy.
At Monday’s forum, he was asked repeatedly by Liberal candidates Raissa Butkowski and Nationals candidate Brad Robertson why he had not been honest about his attempts to run for Labor.
Farley said it was up to the media to answer why they had reported it before he had the chance to tell One Nation and that his political journey had come out of “frustration”.
“I tried to engage politically in Farrer, especially across the critical issues of water in particular, and had no success at all. I investigated all options,” he said.
“I investigated the option of running as an independent like Michelle’s doing. I had Michelle twice in my office … I went right through it all with the Nationals … Then I went to the Labor Party and tried to understand to get in the door there,” Farley said.
Natassia Chrysanthos is Federal Political Correspondent. She has previously reported on immigration, health, social issues and the NDIS from Parliament House in Canberra.Connect via X or email.
Paul Sakkal is Chief Political Correspondent. He previously covered Victorian politics and won a Walkley award and the 2025 Press Gallery Journalist of the Year. Contact him securely on Signal @paulsakkal.14.Connect via X or email.
Rob Harris is the national correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age based in Canberra. He is a former Europe correspondent.Connect via email.
