Nationals select former military commander Brad Robertson to contest Farrer by-election

Members of the National Party’s Farrer branch have selected former military commander Brad Robertson to contest the upcoming by-election.

The seat had been held by former Liberal leader Sussan Ley for 25 years until she resigned as the local member.

The Nationals met in Griffith on Sunday to preselect their candidate for the seat, which will also be contested by the Liberals, One Nation and a high-profile independent. 

Four nominees put their hand up and Mr Robertson was selected by the party room.

Mr Robertson said the issues he saw as a priority for the electorate were fighting for better healthcare access in the region and water management.

He believes the Farrer electorate is a perfect reflection of the core values of the National Party. 

“It ranges from towns, farming communities including cattle and irrigation — they are part of our key values of who we represent,” he said. 

Mr Robertson said he hoped his own and those party values resonated with the voters of Farrer.

“We want to protect our food and fibre industries,” he said.

“If you go out and you tell people what to think, you’re not engaging in a proper conversation. This region especially will see through that.”

Former Federal National Party deputy leader Perin Davey said Mr Robertson would deliver for the region.

“Mr Robertson was in the army for 29 years; he’s very much committed to the local community and to the broader Farrer community as well.”

The former senator, who lives in the electorate at Deniliquin, said having another Nationals voice was important for regional Australia.

“If we can get a Nationals representative in Farrer, that is one strong fighter for Farrer in a partyroom of fighters for regional Australia,” she said. 

Brad Robertson has Perin Davey’s backing. (ABC Riverina: Jess Scully)

Historically non-Labor seat

Mr Robertson believes the Nationals have a “strong chance” of gaining the seat back.

“When you look at what we represent and the people of Farrer, they’ve been waiting for us to come back,” he said.

“Under our conventions we couldn’t contest this seat, and now we can.”

The National Party met in Griffith to choose a candidate for the Farrer by-election. (ABC News)

Before Ms Ley, Farrer was held by then deputy prime minister Tim Fischer for the Nationals. 

The vast regional seat covers 126,000 square kilometres of southern and western NSW. It takes at least 9 hours to drive from its eastern to western points.

The meeting to select a new candidate went for more than 3 hours. (ABC News: Jostina Basta)

One Nation’s candidate

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is gaining renewed attention across parts of regional Australia, with the minor party seeing a rise in supporters as voters look beyond the traditional parties.

David Farley has been preselected to stand for One Nation at the May by-election, with the Liberals yet to reveal their nomination.

The agricultural businessman, 69, defeated two other candidates in the preselection contest that took place today at the Albury Entertainment Centre.