Farrer's devastating result

May 15, 2026

Reading Jordi Nugent’s article the day after the Farrer by election, it’s hard to credit her assertion that “the voters of Farrer have the best interests of this country in mind” given that the PHON candidate won so easily. If Nugent’s statement is true, then we must question those voters’ skills of discernment and judgement. All that is bad about PHON has been on display forever, from its racism, its instability, its elected members abandoning the party, to its leader’s support for Rinehart and Trump, and infrequent appearances in the House, never mind a lack of policies and history of doing nothing. Saving graces are all but impossible to find.

Given his unnaturally rapid political gymnastics through options to get into parliament, plus the model PHON presents, it’s hard to see Farley as anything but a person looking for a cushy retirement job. I hope I’m wrong because otherwise it’s bad news for Farrer and for all of Australia.

That the people of Farrer had a candidate in Milthorpe who shows all the tenacity for hard work, good judgement, selflessness and compassion following the example of existing community independent MPs, yet was passed over for a PHON grifter is devastating.