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View from The Hill: Taylor defends putting One Nation ahead of Farrer independent as ‘least worst option’

The Conversation · · 546 words · By Michelle Grattan
The Role of Independent Candidates in Elections Economic Anxiety/Fear of Opposition Policies Coalition Party Strategy/Internal Politics

The article reports on opposition leader Angus Taylor defending the preference for One Nation over independent Michelle Milthorpe in the Farrer byelection, calling it the "least worst option." Coalition leaders questioned Milthorpe's funding and policy stances, while Milthorpe countered by suggesting the Coalition's actions benefit the Liberal Party rather than the community.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-taylor-defends-putting-one-nation…

analyticsAnalysis

55%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Moderate concerns. Notable use of persuasive or loaded language.

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 80% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
warning
Whataboutism 65% confidence
Deflecting criticism by pointing to a different issue.
warning
Smears 75% confidence
Using damaging allegations to undermine a person's reputation.
warning
Selective Omission 70% confidence
Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

21 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 11
info Single Source 7
help Insufficient Evidence 2
check_circle Corroborated 1
info
“Opposition leader Angus Taylor has defended preferencing One Nation ahead of high profile independent Michelle Milthorpe in the Farrer May 9 byelection, declaring this was “the least worst option”.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results confirm that the Nationals are preferring One Nation over Michelle Milthorpe, citing that the decision is because Milthorpe is a 'teal-backed candidate' [web_search]. However, none of the provided evidence explicitly quotes Angus Taylor defending preferencing One Nation over Michelle Milthorpe specifically by calling it the 'least worst option' in the context of the May 9 byelection. The evidence is insufficient to corroborate the specific quote and context.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A federal election is scheduled to be held by 2028 to elect members of the House of Representatives and half of the Senate to the 49th Parliament of Australia. The incumbent Labor government, led by P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Australian_federal_electi…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A by-election will be held on 9 May 2026 to elect the Australian member of parliament (MP) for the New South Wales division of Farrer. The election follows the resignation of former opposition leader …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Farrer_by-election
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Angus James Taylor (born 30 September 1966) is an Australian politician who has served as the leader of the Opposition and the leader of the Liberal Party since 2026. He has been the member of parliam…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_Taylor
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“In a close result preferences from the Liberals and Nationals could be vital in getting One Nation’s David Farley over the line, which would be the first time the party had won a House of Representatives seat.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result suggests that One Nation would prefer them winning over an independent, but it does not provide evidence that Liberal and National preferences are vital for David Farley to win, nor does it confirm this would be the first time One Nation won a House of Representatives seat. The evidence is not strong enough to corroborate the full claim.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A by-election will be held on 9 May 2026 to elect the Australian member of parliament (MP) for the New South Wales division of Farrer. The election follows the resignation of former opposition leader …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Farrer_by-election
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Democratic Party is a liberal political party in the United States, sitting on the center to center-left of the political spectrum. Founded in 1828, it is the world's oldest active political party…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_State…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Oregon State University's College of Liberal Arts is a liberal arts college at Oregon State University. The college is located on the Corvallis, Oregon main campus and offers students 66 academic prog…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_State_University_Colleg…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Farley’s victory would be a major springboard for One Nation going into the November Victorian election.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Two web search results mention David Farley and One Nation in the context of Farrer, suggesting he is a contender [web_search]. However, none of the provided evidence links a victory in this specific by-election to being a 'major springboard for One Nation going into the November Victorian election.'
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Caleb Ray Farley (born November 2, 1998) is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_Farley
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Farley "Jackmaster" Funk (born Farley Keith Williams; January 25, 1962) is an American musician, DJ and record producer of Chicago house and acid house music. He is notable for writing and producing a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farley_"Jackmaster"_Funk
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Farley McGill Mowat, (May 12, 1921 – May 6, 2014) was a Canadian writer and environmentalist. His works were translated into 52 languages, and he sold more than 17 million books. He achieved fame wi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farley_Mowat
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
“The Coalition parties have insisted Milthorpe is a “teal” because she receives funding from Climate 200.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources indicate that Coalition parties are making claims regarding Milthorpe's funding or support from Climate 200. One web search explicitly mentions the claim that Milthorpe is a 'teal-backed candidate' supported by people who favor net zero [web_search]. Another web search confirms that Milthorpe has received support from Climate 200 [web_search].
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Climate 200 Pty Ltd is an Australian company that provides political funding. It describes itself as a "community crowdfunding initiative" that supports community-backed independents to stand for elec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_200
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Voices for or Voices of groups are a series of political community engagement groups in Australia. The first group to be established was Voices for Indi in 2012. Voices of Warringah was establishe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voices_movement_(Australia)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A by-election will be held on 9 May 2026 to elect the Australian member of parliament (MP) for the New South Wales division of Farrer. The election follows the resignation of former opposition leader …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Farrer_by-election
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“She has repeatedly rejected the “teal” label.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result mentions that 'Claims Ms Milthorpe is a teal don't pass the pub test' [web_search], suggesting she rejects the label, but this is the only source providing this specific information. The other sources do not address her rejection of the label.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 5 days ago · Michelle Obama, American first lady (2009–17), the wife of Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States. She was the first African American first lady, and during her time in that po…
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michelle-Obama
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web search NEUTRAL — Michelle Robinson Obama was born in DeYoung, Illinois, on January 17, 1964, to parents Frasier Robinson III and Marian Shields. She grew up in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood with her older brother…
https://www.obamalibrary.gov/obamas/first-lady-michelle-obam…
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web search NEUTRAL — Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama[1] (née Robinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017 as the wife of Barack Obama…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama
info
“The Liberals and Nationals, who are are preferencing each other, both have Milthorpe behind One Nation on their how-to-vote cards.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result states that the Nationals are preferring One Nation over Michelle Milthorpe because she is a 'teal-backed candidate' [web_search]. While this suggests a preference dynamic, the evidence does not confirm that *both* the Liberals and Nationals have placed Milthorpe behind One Nation on their how-to-vote cards.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Australian federal election was held on 3 May 2025 to elect 150 seats of the House of Representatives and 40 out of the 76 Senate seats. At the election, the Albanese government was elected t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_of_the_2025_Austral…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Division of Farrer is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales. Located in the southwestern part of the state bordering both South Australia and Victoria, at 126,563 km2 (4…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_of_Farrer
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A federal election is scheduled to be held by 2028 to elect members of the House of Representatives and half of the Senate to the 49th Parliament of Australia. The incumbent Labor government, led by P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Australian_federal_electi…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Taylor told the ABC on Sunday: “When we look at the other parties, the truth is that the teals have consistently in the parliament, the vast majority of the time, voted with the Greens.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result quotes Angus Taylor stating that 'the teals have consistently in the parliament, the vast majority of the time, voted with the Greens' [web_search]. This is the only evidence provided for this specific statement.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — They vote with the Greens majority of the time.” Milthorpe has told Guardian Australia she is not a “teal”, though has received some support from Climate 200, independent MP Helen Haines and independe…
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/apr/26/angus…
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web search NEUTRAL — The Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has announced the first part of his "Australian Values Migration Plan." As the price of jet fuel continues to soar because of the Middle East conflict, Qanta…
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/opposition-immigra…
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web search NEUTRAL — ABC News Live. Warming up for the East; pockets of fire danger; new storm to bring another round of severe weather. 'Dancing with the Stars' takes the show across the country on tour. See More. Police…
https://abcnews.com/Video/
info
““And in a place like Farrer, that’s going to be bad for the economy, it’s going to be bad for agriculture and agricultural communities and access to water, it’s going to be bad for fuel and energy security and abundance,” he said.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim summarizes a statement made by Taylor regarding negative impacts of 'teal' voting on economy, agriculture, water, and energy. This specific summary is derived from the context of the web search results, but the exact quote and attribution are not fully corroborated by multiple independent sources.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — While there was some overlap between the issues being debated in Canberra and the issues that mattered to Farrer voters – immigration, tax reform and political donations were all discussed – it was a …
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/this-crucial-byelect…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The centre-right Liberal and National parties will preference One Nation ahead of the Climate 200-backed “teal” candidate at the closely-watched Farrer by-election. According to a uComms poll publishe…
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/liberals-nationals-to-pr…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Source: Energy Economics, ScienceDirect.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-economics
help
““If you vote teal, you get Green. And so […] beyond preferencing the National Party, [we] are picking the least worst option.””
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries to support or refute this specific statement made by Angus Taylor.
help
“Polling done for Milthorpe has shown Farley and her neck and neck on primary votes, with Farley ahead on a two-candidate basis.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries to support or refute this polling claim.
schedule
“Neither the Liberal nor the Nationals candidate is considered to be competitive, with prepolling starting this week.”
PENDING
schedule
“Liberal sources have previously argued the party’s base would be outraged if Milthorpe were preferenced ahead of One Nation, although the decision will be another strike against the party among many alienated former Liberal urban voters.”
PENDING
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“Nationals leader Matt Canavan told Sky News on Sunday the teals were “really tricky. They say and do anything to try and win,” he said.”
PENDING
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“Canavan claimed “million and millions” of dollars were coming into the Farrer campaign “from billionaires in Sydney with an inner city Sydney agenda, that they then try and hide”.”
PENDING
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“He said Nationals voters should put the “teal in independent clothing right down the bottom” of their ballot paper.”
PENDING
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“Canavan said that at a candidates forum in Deniliquin Milthorpe had said net zero was pretty unrealistic right now but “she was in a room full of farmers”.”
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““She’s admitted she’s taking money from Climate 200 in Sydney, who obviously want to spread net zero across this country, want to shut down our energy sources.””
PENDING
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“Milthorpe said last week:“The Coalition has done a deal with One Nation because they are worried One Nation will wipe them out.”
PENDING
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““We will never know what One Nation offered the Liberal Party to strike this deal, but what we do know is this isn’t about Farrer. This is a decision made for the good of the Liberal Party, not for the good of our community.””
PENDING
schedule
“Both Canavan and Pauline Hanson spoke at an anti-immigration rally outside parliament house on Sunday.”
PENDING
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“Hanson said victory for One Nation in Farrer would “win Barnaby [Joyce] a mate in the lower house to work with him”.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.