The bookies were right, unfortunately. For the first time since 1996, Pauline Hanson has captured a seat in the House of Representatives via the democratic process, and this time it wasn't in Queensland.

The unceremonious dumping of Sussan Ley as leader of the Liberal Party is about to lead to an interesting by-election in her old seat of Farrer. As Sussan leaves politics to enjoy her parliamentary pension, what happens in this traditionally stodgy seat is likely to provide some real-time pointers on where conservative Australia is heading.