Internal text messages from One Nation’s general manager, Kelvin Morton, have surfaced, revealing disparaging remarks made about party candidate David Farley. Morton, who was hired by the party to oversee and improve candidate vetting processes, referred to Farley as an “asshole” in a private exchange. The messages were sent in May, just days before Farley secured a victory in the Farrer byelection.

According to the records, Morton’s comments were prompted by a Sydney Morning Herald article that highlighted internal party friction regarding Farley. The controversy centered on Farley’s history of previously undeclared support for the Labor Party. In the texts, Morton dismissed the media coverage as “shit stirring” but simultaneously criticized the party’s internal standards, stating, “We need to do way better with our candidate selection – we need to stop finding these assholes.”

The revelation of these messages highlights ongoing tensions within One Nation regarding its vetting procedures and the selection of candidates. While the party has sought to professionalize its operations under Morton’s guidance, these comments suggest significant internal frustration with the quality of candidates being fielded. Neither One Nation nor David Farley has provided a public response to the specific content of these leaked messages at this time.