Nationals MP Colin Boyce says he is considering shifting to One Nation after the Farrer byelection delivered a devastating result for the Coalition, with its primary vote falling to around 20%. Speaking to the Guardian in Albury following One Nation's historic victory in the House of Representatives, the MP for the central Queensland seat of Flynn described the outcome as a "wake-up call".
Boyce reflects on byelection result
"The reality of what has happened last night has to be put into perspective: approximately 40% primary vote in the Farrer byelection was for One Nation, so the big question is, what does that look like in central Queensland?" Boyce said. "I would argue if you’re Pauline Hanson, it’s a lot easier to campaign in Rockhampton than it is in Albury."
When asked if he was considering moving to One Nation, Boyce responded: "I consider a lot of things." He added: "At this point in time, I’m a member of the National party – that’s Sunday morning, whatever the date is today." However, when pressed on whether the result had him reconsidering his political future in the Nationals, Boyce said: "Absolutely. And I think everybody should be thinking about their political future, particularly the people who are the organisers in the hierarchy. If this isn’t a wake-up call for conservative politics, what is?"
Central Queensland's One Nation support
Boyce pointed to the result in the state seat of Callide in 2017, when One Nation secured 25.6% of the vote compared to his 33.4%. At the 2020 state election, he was endorsed by Pauline Hanson after making clear his rightwing credentials, and his primary vote rose above 57%. "The point is, Central Queensland is quite happy to vote One Nation," Boyce said.
The cattle farmer, first elected to the federal seat of Flynn in 2022, was a founding member of a club formed to promote climate science denial and previously described blackouts as a "big political opportunity". In January, Boyce also announced a tilt at the Nationals leadership.
Boyce said he did not attend an election night gathering for Nationals candidate in Farrer, Brad Robertson, but had been at polling booths in the lead-up to the poll. He was with former Nationals leader and now One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce in Albury on Sunday morning.
Joyce's perspective
Joyce said he would never encourage Boyce to leave the Nationals, stating: "It’s like being divorced – it’s completely and utterly your choice." He added: "The vast majority of our members were in previous political parties, the vast majority of people who voted for us voted for someone else at the last election. The idea that people corral to one form of view, I don’t know, people should really do a little bit of Maynard Keynes thinking."
The Farrer byelection saw the Liberal party's primary vote drop by more than 30% after the long-term incumbent Sussan Ley resigned following her removal as leader to make way for Angus Taylor. The Nationals recorded a primary vote just shy of 10%. The seat has been in Coalition hands for the past 76 years.
Previous stance
Boyce has previously ruled out leaving the Nationals, telling Sky News in February that he would not be moving to One Nation, despite acknowledging the surging support for the rightwing party. "There is a huge surge up here [for One Nation]," he said. "There’s lots of people say to me, you know, you should join One Nation and so forth. That’s not happening for me, I am a member of the LNP [Liberal National party]. I am obligated to do the best I can for the LNP and, indeed, the National party in Canberra."
