FARRER — One Nation candidate David Farley defeated independent Michelle Milthorpe in the Farrer byelection, delivering the party its first seat in the House of Representatives. The Coalition parties had held the New South Wales electorate for the entire 76 years of its existence.

The seat was vacated by former Liberal leader Sussan Ley. Labor did not contest the byelection, and the Coalition parties directed preferences to One Nation ahead of Milthorpe, who received financial backing from Simon Holmes à Court's Climate 200 organisation.

Election analyst Antony Green projected the result before counting was complete. "All the trends point to One Nation finishing on around 41% and Milthorpe on 28% on which basis David Farley will win for One Nation," Green said.

The result extended One Nation's parliamentary footprint beyond the Senate. Pauline Hanson was elected to parliament as an independent in 1996 and founded One Nation the following year. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce joined the party last year while already serving in parliament. In the final days of the campaign, Hanson flew into the Farrer electorate in a private plane donated by supporters linked to Gina Rinehart.

Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie suggested the Coalition could work with One Nation to form government in the future. "I'd be willing to work with anyone that wants to see Anthony Albanese leave The Lodge, that wants to see sensible water policy for the Southern Connected Basin, and that actually wants to see regional Australia get their fair share," McKenzie said.

Independent MP Helen Haines attributed the outcome to a preference deal struck by Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan. "The Liberal party and the National party have smoothed the runway for One Nation, by preferencing One Nation," Haines said.

Farley cast his vote at Albury Public School shortly after 8am on election day. Many polling stations around Albury were staffed by volunteers wearing orange shirts.