'Come on ... sweetheart': Journalists booted from One Nation event

Friday, 8 May 2026 18:14

Pauline Hanson has bristled at her chief of staff's controversial decision on the eve of a crucial byelection.

Two local ABC reporters have been escorted out of a One Nation event on the eve of the crucial Farrer byelection.

In vision captured by 9News, a One Nation volunteer can be seen telling two local ABC journalists to leave, shortly before the event was set to kick off.

One of the ABC workers can be heard asking whether One Nation candidate David Farley had ordered their removal, to which the staffer replied, "That doesn't matter, come on... sweetheart, please," leading the pair towards the exit.

One of the ABC reporters can be heard saying, "we are a tax-funded organisation".

One Nation chief of staff James Ashby was also seen directing the reporters out of the event, saying "bye-bye to the ABC" before following the pair towards the exit.

Ashby then said he was the one who ordered the removal of the reporters, telling them to ask their chief of staff in Canberra for the reason.

They replied by saying they are based in Wodonga, which neighbours with Albury in the Farrer electorate.

Pauline Hanson was seen questioning their removal.

"We serve the local community," one reporter said.

After the ABC reporters left, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson questioned Ashby about their removal.

"Why, if they're local ABC? Rural and regional? she asked.

"Because they're reporting back to ABC Canberra," Ashby replied.

"They were told."

Hanson appeared to say "they shouldn't have gone", before walking off.

The Farrer byelection will be held tomorrow, and One Nation is considered the frontrunner to take the regional NSW seat from the Coalition following the resignation of former opposition leader Sussan Ley, who had held the electorate from 2001.

Both the Liberals and Nationals are fielding candidates, while independent Michelle Milthorpe is also a major challenger, having significantly cut into Ley's margin at the last federal election.

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