Barnaby Joyce, a One Nation MP, said his party is "unafraid of saying the truth" as it campaigns for the upcoming Farrer by-election.
The statements signal a strategy to mobilize regional voters by centering the campaign on cultural identity and opposition to federal environmental mandates.
Joyce targeted current climate-change policies during an appearance on Sky News Australia. He said that "conservatism is unafraid of saying the truth, like climate change policy is disastrous."
Beyond environmental policy, Joyce focused on the cultural foundations of the country. He said the party is proud to identify Australia as a predominantly Judeo-Christian society. This framing serves as a cornerstone of the One Nation platform to preserve traditional values.
Regional infrastructure and economic concerns also featured heavily in the MP's remarks. Joyce said he will oppose what he described as "swindle factories and transmission lines" that he said are devastating regional Australia.
He said the "lifestyle of Australia" is currently at stake due to a $2 billion [1] problem. This financial figure underscores the party's argument that current government spending and industrial projects are detrimental to rural communities.
Joyce said the party will stand up for regional residents against these developments. The Farrer by-election serves as a critical test for One Nation's ability to capture rural discontent through this combination of social conservatism and anti-climate policy rhetoric.
“"Conservatism is unafraid of saying the truth, like climate change policy is disastrous."”
This campaign approach reflects a broader effort by One Nation to consolidate the rural vote by linking economic grievances—such as infrastructure projects—with cultural identity and a rejection of global climate targets. By framing the Farrer by-election as a battle for the 'lifestyle of Australia,' the party is attempting to position itself as the sole protector of regional interests against urban-centric policy.
