GetUp Deploys Four Hundred Thousand Dollar Trump Themed Offensive Against Pauline Hanson in Farrer By-Election

Advocacy group GetUp targets Pauline Hanson in the Farrer by-election, using Trump-themed ads to link One Nation to rising rural costs and corporate interests.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 3:46 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from NewsWire

Targeted Advocacy Blitz in Rural New South Wales

The political advocacy organization GetUp has initiated an aggressive $400,000 campaign designed to undermine One Nation’s momentum in the Farrer by-election. Centered in a critical NSW battleground, the ads utilize Donald Trump-themed imagery to frame Pauline Hanson’s populist rhetoric as detrimental to the economic interests of regional Australians. GetUp officials confirmed that the campaign aims to reach a total spend of $600,000 before the May 9 vote. This financial push is fueled by a rapidly expanding membership base, which reportedly increased by 100,000 individuals in the last month alone, reflecting a high degree of mobilization among anti-populist activists.

Economic Vulnerability and Agricultural Costs

A core component of the GetUp strategy involves connecting One Nation’s political alignment with the specific financial pressures facing rural communities. By highlighting Senator Hanson’s affinity for Trumpian economic policies, the campaign argues that such populist approaches exacerbate the rising costs of essential farming inputs like fertilizer and fuel. These advertisements are being distributed across a wide array of platforms, including television, radio, and digital media, as well as large scale billboards throughout the electorate. The objective is to shift the narrative away from identity politics and toward the direct economic consequences of One Nation’s legislative platform.

The Four-Way Contest for Sussan Ley’s Former Seat

The Farrer by-election was precipitated by the resignation of former Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, creating a volatile political vacuum in a traditionally conservative stronghold. The race has evolved into a complex four-way struggle involving candidates from the Liberal and National parties, One Nation’s David Farley, and Climate 200-backed independent Michelle Milthorpe. Early polling conducted by the Australia Institute in March suggested that Milthorpe and One Nation were leading the pack, though these figures were recorded prior to the formal announcement of the One Nation candidate. This competitive landscape has made Farrer a top priority for national advocacy groups seeking to influence the balance of power.