One Nation boss called David Farley an ‘asshole’ in lead-up to Farrer byelection, text messages reveal

<p><strong>Exclusive:</strong> Documents seen by Guardian Australia show that Kelvin Morton has also clashed with party HQ staff and Brisbane volunteers</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">new political email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>One Nation’s general manager, Kelvin Morton – brought in by the party to improve its vetting processes – referred to David Farley as an “asshole” just days before <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/may/09/farrer-byelection-results-one-nation-michelle-milthorpe-coalition">Farley’s historic Farrer byelection win</a> for the party in May.</p><p>In a series of text messages seen by Guardian Australia, Morton responds to a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/infighting-erupts-in-one-nation-over-farrer-candidate-s-campaign-20260504-p5zthe.html">news article published in the Sydney Morning Herald</a> about infighting among senior party figures over Farley’s previously undeclared support for the Labor party.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/28/politics-really-newsletter-guardian-australia-free-best-daily-auspol-email-subscribe?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/28/one-nation-kelvin-morton-david-farley-asshole-farrer-byelection-text-messages-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>