Liberals and Nationals to preference One Nation in blow to Michelle Milthorpe in Farrer byelection

The Liberals and Nationals will preference One Nation ahead of Michelle Milthorpe in the Farrer byelection in a potential blow to the independent’s hopes of winning the 9 May race.

Milthorpe and One Nation’s David Farley are viewed as the frontrunners in the four cornered-contest, meaning the flow of preferences from the Liberals and Nationals could be crucial in deciding the final outcome in the southern New South Wales seat.

Despite launching a blitz of negative ads targeting One Nation, the two Coalition parties will instruct supporters to number Farley ahead of Milthorpe in their respective how-to-vote cards.

The Liberals will preference the Nationals’ Brad Robertson second, ahead of Farley in fourth position and Milthorpe in ninth, according to a mock how-to-vote card published on candidate Raissa Butkowski’s campaign website.

The Greens’ Richard Hendrie is numbered 12 and last on the Liberals’ ticket.

The Nationals will return the favour to the Liberals before encouraging supporters to number Farley ahead of Milthorpe.

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In a post to Facebook, the Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, said the party would preference One Nation ahead of the “teal-backed candidate because she is backed by people that support net zero and water buybacks”.

Milthorpe’s campaign is supported by the Climate 200 fundraising vehicle but she has sought to distance herself from the city-based teal independent movement.

The Farrer byelection was triggered by the retirement of long-serving MP Sussan Ley, who quit the parliament after losing the Liberal party leadership to Angus Taylor in February.

After an historic result at last month’s South Australian state election, the Farrer contest is the federal electoral test for Pauline Hanson since One Nation’s started rising in the polls in the middle of last year.

The Coalition has intensified the political attacks on One Nation in the past fortnight, including drawing attention to the decision to as a campaign manager.