One Nation Campaign Sign Misspelling Revealed as Workplace Prank

Social media users have been quick to ridicule what appeared to be a One Nation campaign poster misspelling the name of a New South Wales electorate, but fact-checking has revealed the sign is nothing more than a workplace prank.

Images circulating widely on Facebook and X show a campaign corflute for a supposed candidate named David Hirst running in the “Farrier region” – an apparent misspelling of the NSW regional seat of Farrer, where a by-election is scheduled following former Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s resignation from parliament.

“These One Nation goons can’t even spell the proper name of Sussan Ley’s former electorate!” claimed one social media post, while another suggested the error indicated how poorly the candidate would perform if elected.

However, an investigation by AAP FactCheck has confirmed the sign has no connection to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party. The organization contacted the party directly, with a spokesperson stating: “One Nation has no knowledge of this David Hirst person. He is not a candidate for One Nation in any seat.”

Further evidence of the hoax is apparent in the poster’s design, which lacks the authentic One Nation logo featuring the Southern Cross. The layout also differs significantly from official campaign materials used by the party in previous elections.

The truth behind the sign emerged when fact-checkers reached David Hirst himself. The Albury local confirmed the corflute was created by his co-workers as a practical joke, and he has no political affiliations with One Nation whatsoever.

The Farrer by-election has attracted significant attention as it follows the departure of Sussan Ley, who had represented the electorate for nearly 25 years before stepping down. Her resignation has triggered what is expected to be a closely contested race in the traditionally Liberal-held seat.

One Nation has indeed announced plans to contest the by-election, but the party is still in the process of selecting its candidate. According to an official statement, three individuals – David Farley, Leigh Wolki, and Guy Cooper – are slated to participate in a pre-selection meeting scheduled for March 7.

The viral spread of the fake campaign poster highlights the increasingly common phenomenon of misinformation circulating during election periods. Social media platforms have become fertile ground for both deliberate disinformation campaigns and innocent jokes that can be misconstrued as authentic political content.

Electoral pranks and satirical campaign materials are nothing new in Australian politics, but the speed at which such content can spread online poses challenges for voters attempting to make informed decisions. This incident serves as a reminder for social media users to verify political claims before sharing them.

The Farrer by-election will be a significant test for all major parties, coming at a time when the federal political landscape remains highly competitive. The seat covers a large rural area in southwestern New South Wales, including major centers like Albury and Griffith, and has traditionally been a conservative stronghold.

While the prank sign may have provided momentary amusement for some social media users, it underscores the importance of media literacy and critical evaluation of political content, particularly as Australia heads into what promises to be an eventful election cycle.