Farley under fire for siding with teals and Greens on fuel tax vote

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, June 25, 2026

David Farley, the newly elected One Nation MP for Farrer, faced backlash after supporting an amendment to cap fuel tax credits for the resources sector, a move contrary to his party’s stance. His vote highlights challenges in his early parliamentary experience and staffing shortages, raising questions about his future alignment within One Nation.

David Farley, the newly elected One Nation member for Farrer, has faced criticism after supporting a proposal to limit fuel tax credits available to the resources sector. The vote took place on Tuesday and involved an amendment to Labor’s fuel excise legislation, which sought to impose a $50 million annual cap on these credits.

The amendment was introduced by independent MP Nicolette Boele, backed by Climate 200 and supported by several teal independents and the Greens. It aimed to restrict the fuel tax credits that currently benefit mining and agricultural businesses for fuel used off public roads. Despite this crossbench support, the amendment was decisively defeated after the Labor government and the Coalition united in opposition. Barnaby Joyce, One Nation’s only other member in the House of Representatives, was absent for the vote.

Farley, who won One Nation’s first lower-house seat in a by-election in May, acknowledged the controversy surrounding his decision. In a statement released late Wednesday, he attributed his vote to inexperience and a lack of adequate staff support. “Unfortunately, I was not able [to] change my votes after the fact,” he said, expressing regret over the mistake. He added that recruiting experienced parliamentary staff had been challenging but that steps to address the issue were underway.

Farley also pointed to what he described as an excessive workload for One Nation’s advisers and criticized the government for not providing sufficient staffing resources for his party. He insisted that his position remains aligned with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, emphasizing his full support for the party and its policies. Hanson’s party has consistently opposed any restrictions on fuel tax credits, which reimburse excise paid by sectors such as mining and agriculture.

Senator Hanson declined to comment on Farley’s vote or the ensuing criticism.

Meanwhile, Nationals leader Matt Canavan publicly rebuked Farley for siding with the Greens and teal independents, accusing One Nation of failing to uphold its commitment to the mining and farming industries. Canavan’s criticism highlighted concerns within the Coalition and regional industry advocates, who view these fuel tax credits as vital support for their sectors.

As Farley works to navigate his first months in parliament, questions remain over how the staffing and experience challenges he cited might affect his future voting decisions and alignment within the party.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.