Updated May 9, 2026 — 5:06pm,first published May 8, 2026 — 9:01pm
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One Nation candidate David Farley faces calls to apologise to a popular Albury doctor after he outraged byelection rivals in the seat of Farrer with comments at a candidates’ forum on the eve of the vote.
Farley, the frontrunner to make a historic breakthrough for Pauline Hanson’s party in one of the Coalition’s traditional rural strongholds, cast his vote in front of national media at Albury Public School early on Saturday. But there was no sign of Hanson or high-profile MP Barnaby Joyce as was expected.
One Nation candidate David Farley at Albury Public School on Saturday morning.Janie Barrett
On Friday night, Farley said of Dr Lachlan McKeeman, an Albury GP and prominent campaigner for improved health services in the region, that he could “see why he lost his job, I think” during an interaction with the audience for a live filming of The Karl Stefanovic Show.
McKeeman has not worked at Albury Wodonga Health since late last year after receiving legal advice that his “position was untenable” because of his public criticism of the organisation and the hospital redevelopment.
He used Friday night’s forum to challenge the One Nation candidate, who supports continuing the current hospital redevelopment until a greenfield site can be identified.
“The brownfield is in progress,” Farley said before McKeeman interjected from the back of the outdoor area at Beer Deluxe.
David Farley (above) faced yet another controversy on the eve of the election over comments towards a local doctor.Janie Barrett
“It is not. They’ve only started the north-east building. Don’t lie,” McKeeman said.
Farley responded: “You can see why he lost his job, I think.” The remark drew fierce boos from the audience.
The remark is the latest in a string of gaffes from Farley during the campaign, which has exposed tensions within the One Nation party. It was revealed during the campaign that Farley had attempted to run for Labor in 2022, endorsed his rival candidate 12 months ago and publicly disagreed with Hanson’s immigration policy.
The issue over the hospital on the border has been central to the campaign, with both Coalition candidates and community independent Michelle Milthorpe calling for a newly constructed hospital at a new site instead of a planned upgrade to the existing Albury campus.
Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe (centre) campaigning in Albury.Janie Barrett
On Saturday, Farley told reporters on his way to vote that he was hopeful of winning the support of voters. When asked where Hanson was, he replied: “I’ll be seeing Pauline later on.”
One Nation later posted images of Farley with Hanson with members of his family and party senators in Narrandera, about two hours drive northwest of Albury.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan told reporters outside Albury Public School that Farley and Hanson should apologise for the “disrespectful remarks” made about the GP.
“David Farley should apologise to Lachie McKeeman. He’s a great doctor,” Canavan said. “If that’s the approach One Nation takes for regional Australia, they’re not going to be able to stand up for regional Australia because our doctors and nurses work so hard with so limited resources from their capital city masters.”
Milthorpe, who went close to unseating Sussan Ley at the last election and is widely expected to be Farley’s main challenger, condemned the comment as “ignorant” and “insensitive”.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson at a pub in Albury on Friday evening.Janie Barrett
“This issue is not a joke for Dr McKeeman, and it is not a joke for the families whose lives have been deeply affected by the ongoing issues with Albury Wodonga Health,” she said.
Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski said: “I just know that that’s not the way that I would respond”.
Hanson said on Friday night that she was “on eggshells” ahead of the vote and warned that she would have no tolerance for new MPs who failed to work hard.
The Queensland senator insisted that she was not taking the contest for granted, with the Australian Electoral Commission confirming that nearly 50,000 voters, or 40 per cent of those enrolled in Farrer, had already cast their vote.
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“I’ve been through so many elections where I thought, ‘Right, we’re looking really good here’,” Hanson said.
“Until that last vote is cast tomorrow night and the counting starts, I’m on eggshells … because it’s up to the people out there, the voters, what they want.”
Hanson has been forced to smooth over differences with Farley after several missteps over the past fortnight. Asked about some comments, Hanson stressed the party’s formal immigration target remained far lower.
“I’m not gonna shut him down. He had his say, but he clarified what he meant,” she said in reference to immigration levels.
She also defended her tight control over party discipline amid longstanding criticism about instability in the minor party’s ranks, saying she had previously removed MPs who failed to perform.
“It has been a battle with these different ones, and I will admit there’s been a couple in there I got rid of,” Hanson said, referencing past acrimonious splits with former senators Brian Burston and Fraser Anning.
“One was the senator from NSW. One was a member from Queensland. They did nothing. They sat there and did absolutely nothing.
“If you don’t work for the people that elect you, you’re not in my party. I don’t reward bad behaviour.”
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Key issues that have shaped the campaign include cost-of-living pressures, water management, access to healthcare and regional services, infrastructure investment and support for agriculture and local industries.
Milthorpe, who slashed Ley’s margin in the federal election last year, has continually had to bat away claims that she is a teal independent, because of donations from Simon Holmes à Court’s Climate 200.
Hanson framed Saturday’s contest as part of a broader political fight against the major parties, declaring: “Can I do it? Yes, I can. I want our country back.”
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CORRECTION
An earlier version of this story referred to Liberal MP Raissa Butkowski. She is the party’s candidate.
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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.From our partners