Controversial duo Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson will take centre stage at the official opening of the 2026 Henty Machinery Field Days on 22 September. Photo: Pauline Hanson Facebook.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and federal MP Barnaby Joyce will descend on Henty next week, with the controversial duo heading into the heart of Farrer to take centre stage at Australia’s biggest agricultural event.
The polarising Queensland senator will officially open the Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD) on Tuesday (22 September), but the invitation has raised eyebrows across the electorate, particularly given Farrer has its own newly elected One Nation MP in David Farley.
Mr Farley will be there and is set to participate in the official opening, but it will be his federal party leader who gets the headline billing on one of the region’s most prominent platforms.
With Hanson and Joyce confirmed as guests, Farley could once again find himself somewhat overshadowed by two of the biggest personalities in Australian politics.
It is a dynamic Farrer voters have seen before.
Hanson was a highly visible presence during One Nation’s successful Farrer campaign, frequently commanding the cameras and national headlines as the party pursued its historic breakthrough in the formerly safe Liberal seat.
Now, having won the seat, some locals are questioning when Farrer’s new MP gets to take the reins himself.
Grong Grong farmer Gemma Purcell said she was disappointed by the decision to invite Senator Hanson to officially open the event.
“I wonder why a Queensland senator needs to come to Farrer and push us around,” she said.
“I didn’t vote for her. She’s a senator and not our local MP; you have to wonder about the merits of inviting her to open the event.”
As divisive as the Hanson factor is, the decision to invite her to the hallowed grounds of Henty highlights One Nation’s growing political footprint in the region.
The HMFD board has defended its decision, saying Senator Hanson was invited specifically because of the change in Farrer’s political representation.
In a media statement issued last month, chief executive Belinda Anderson said Mr Farley’s election was central to the decision to invite his federal leader.
“With David Farley becoming the newly elected Member for Farrer and the first fully elected One Nation representative in the House of Representatives, the board considered an invitation to the federal leader of his party appropriate,” Mrs Anderson said.
“Mr Farley will also be attending and participating in the official opening.”
The HMFD chief acknowledged the choice had divided opinion.
“We are aware that Senator Hanson is a polarising political figure and some people disagree with the decision,” she said.
“We have received a small amount of correspondence expressing these views. We have also received positive feedback from people who welcome her attendance and, in some cases, have indicated that it has encouraged them to attend the field days.”
The HMFD board has stressed that inviting Senator Hanson should not be interpreted as an endorsement of her politics, pointing to its long history of welcoming representatives from across politics, government, agriculture, industry and public life.
Henty has a longstanding relationship with Farrer’s federal MP, with successive members invited to attend and participate over many years. Former MPs Tim Fischer and Sussan Ley were familiar and welcome faces at Henty.
“There is no requirement that an opening guest share or represent the views of HMFD, its board, members, exhibitors or patrons, and an invitation should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any position held by that individual,” Mrs Anderson said.
This year the political temperature will be considerably higher.
Beyond the official opening, Senator Hanson will attend a private luncheon and has also accepted an invitation to take part in the NSW Farmers’ ‘Pollies in the Paddock’ forum from 1:30 pm.
The forum will see agriculture leaders question federal representatives about farm profitability, water security, biosecurity, infrastructure, workforce shortages, regulation and the future of regional communities.
Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton are also confirmed for the panel, which will be chaired by NSW Farmers president Rebecca Reardon.
For HMFD organisers, however, the politics remains secondary to an event expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and more than 850 exhibitors across three days.
“Our focus remains on delivering an exceptional 2026 Henty Machinery Field Days and showcasing agriculture, innovation and the rural and regional communities that have been at the heart of this event,” Mrs Anderson said.
That may ultimately be the balancing act facing organisers as the gates roll open … keeping the focus on agriculture when one of the country’s most recognisable and contentious political figures is handed the microphone.
And somewhere among the expected media scrum will be David Farley – the man Farrer actually elected to represent it.
Whether Henty provides an opportunity for the new MP to be heard above his party’s national heavyweights will be one of the more interesting sideshows in the paddock come Tuesday.
For full program and ticketing information for the 22-24 September event, visit the Henty Machinery Field Days website.
