One Nation Wins First Lower House Seat in Australian By-Election

One Nation candidate David Farley won the Farrer by-election in New South Wales with more than 57 percent of the vote after preferences were distributed, according to nearly complete tallies reported by BBC News. Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe received almost 43 percent.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Sussan Ley. Farrer covers 127,000 square kilometers in regional New South Wales and includes the centers of Albury, Griffith and Deniliquin. The electorate had been held by either the Liberal or National parties since its creation.

One Nation had not previously won a federal lower house seat.

Nation leader Pauline Hanson told supporters the result represented a win for Australia as well as Farrer. " He added, "What are we doing tonight? The by-election was the first federal test of One Nation following the party's strong performance in the South Australian state election in March.

The outcome will not change the Labor government's majority in the lower house. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson initially held a lower house seat as an independent in the late 1990s before losing re-election. She later returned to federal parliament as a senator.

The result is being viewed as an indicator of shifting voter support away from the traditional major parties.