Nationals MP Colin Boyce says he’s considering move to One Nation after ‘wake-up call’ in Farrer byelection

Nationals MP Colin Boyce is considering shifting to One Nation after the Farrer byelection saw the Coalition’s vote tank to about 20% of the primary vote.

Speaking to the Guardian in Albury after One Nation recorded its historic victory in the House of Representatives, the MP for the central Queensland seat of Flynn said the result was a “wake-up call”.

“The reality of what has happened last night has to be put into perspective: so approximately 40% primary vote in the Farrer byelection [was] for One Nation, so the big question is, what does that look like in central Queensland?” Boyce said.

“I would argue if you’re Pauline Hanson, it’s a lot easier to campaign in Rockhampton than it is in Albury.”

When asked if he was considering shifting to One Nation, he said: “I consider a lot of things.”

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“At this point in time, I’m a member of the National party – that’s Sunday morning, whatever the date is today.”

But when pushed on whether the result had him reconsidering his political future in the Nationals, Boyce said: “Absolutely. And I think everybody should be thinking about their political future, particularly the people who are the organisers in the hierarchy. If this isn’t a wake-up call for conservative politics, what is?”

“I’m only facing the reality of what I’ve been trying to point out for a very long time.”

Boyce pointed to the result in the state seat of Callide in 2017 when One Nation secured 25.6% of the vote compared to his 33.4%. At the 2020 state election, he was endorsed by Pauline Hanson after making clear his rightwing credentials, and his primary vote rose above 57%.

“The point is, Central Queensland is quite happy to vote One Nation.”

The cattle farmer, who was first elected to the federal seat of Flynn in 2022, was a founding member of a club formed to promote climate science denial, and previously described blackouts as a .