Former Farrer MP Sussan Ley has released a statement congratulating One Nation’s David Farley, after remaining absent from the campaign since her resignation from parliament.
I congratulate David Farley and One Nation on their victory in Farrer tonight.
Serving the people of Farrer for 25 years, having been endorsed by locals at nine elections, was the privilege of my professional life. I know David will feel the same sense of honour and responsibility.
I pay tribute to Raissa Butkowski for her efforts over the past two months. Upon leaving Parliament, I bequeathed a quarter of a million dollars in personal fundraising to support the next Liberal candidate and I acknowledge Raissa’s tireless determination since her preselection.
I also express my appreciation to the hundreds of Farrer FEC members, as well as our wider network of local supporters and volunteers, for their hard work. I share your immense disappointment about this loss.
The seat of Farrer was created in 1949. Until tonight, at every one of the 30 elections since, through different and challenging circumstances, it has been held without exception by the Liberal and National parties. It would be an error to reduce both the scale and significance of tonight’s defeat to a Coalition split which occurred months ago, or to misattribute it to the date the vote was held.
I urge the Liberal leadership to accept this result with humility because the voters never get it wrong. On the day the leadership spilled in February, the new leader said the Liberal Party needed to “change or die”.
Three months later, the result in Farrer demonstrates that statement to be far truer today than it ever was
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