One Nation's bid to win Secret Harbour state by-election in WA
Consensus Summary
The Secret Harbour state by-election in Western Australia is a pivotal moment for One Nation, as the party seeks to win its first seat in the Legislative Assembly. Luke Herdegen, the 39-year-old One Nation candidate, is leading a campaign focused on cost-of-living pressures, housing affordability, and immigration concerns, with strong support from Pauline Hanson. Both ABC and THEWEST report that Labor’s candidate, Georgia Tree, faces challenges due to her residence in Perth and past campaign missteps, while the Liberals have chosen to preference One Nation third on the ballot. The by-election follows the March 2025 state and federal elections, where One Nation won four lower house seats in South Australia and gained just under 30 per cent of the federal primary vote. With 45 per cent of votes already cast and a final result not expected until after September 3, the outcome will determine whether One Nation can break into the WA Parliament. Labor has spent $400,000 defending the seat, but voter dissatisfaction with major parties and unpopular federal Labor policies have fueled One Nation’s surge.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Luke Herdegen is the One Nation candidate in the Secret Harbour by-election
- Rod Caddies is Western Australia's One Nation leader and is campaigning alongside Herdegen
- The Secret Harbour by-election is being held in a suburb south of Perth
- One Nation received less than 9 per cent of the vote in Secret Harbour at the WA state election last year
- Labor was ahead of the Liberals by 11.5 per cent in Secret Harbour at the WA state election last year
- Pauline Hanson texted Herdegen on Friday to say 'go hard' and praised his campaign efforts
- Hanson also phoned Herdegen on Saturday morning to encourage him
- The WA state and federal elections were held in March 2025
- One Nation won four lower house seats in the South Australian election
- There are 36,407 eligible voters in the Secret Harbour electorate
- 45 per cent of voters have already cast their ballot through pre-poll and postal voting
- The final result cannot be declared until after September 3, once all postal votes are counted
- Georgia Tree is the Labor candidate in the Secret Harbour by-election
- WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas has chosen to preference One Nation third on the ballot
- Liberal MP Andrew Hastie criticized the WA Liberals for not running hard enough against One Nation
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Luke Herdegen met with 7.30 at just after 6 o'clock on a stormy Monday morning
- Herdegen started his campaign day with a run and a swim at the beach
- Herdegen’s sister is not speaking to him after he joined One Nation
- Herdegen previously used and quit cocaine, which sparked controversy
- Former journalist Peter Kennedy said this by-election is the most significant in some time
- Labor and One Nation are now neck and neck in Secret Harbour
- WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas said he does not see One Nation as a threat
- Andrew Hastie said voters sense weakness if the Liberals signal it
- Herdegen said he loves his sister but disagrees with her views on One Nation
- Herdegen said he is proud of his past struggles and the character they built
- Herdegen declared he can win the by-election on primaries
- Hanson texted Herdegen on Friday calling him a 39-year-old and praising his commitment
- Hanson said she wished she could be at the One Nation function in Karnup on the night
- Herdegen is a 39-year-old gym owner
- Labor spent an unprecedented $400,000 trying to retain the seat
- Anthony Albanese refused to visit Secret Harbour despite being in Perth for three days
- Albanese attended fundraisers with admission prices ranging from $2500 to $10,000
- Roger Cook and Rita Saffioti’s announcement of a new train station at Karnup was a campaign misstep for Labor
- Georgia Tree lives in Perth despite spending her childhood and teenage years in Warnbro
- One Nation’s primary vote is just under 30 per cent federally
- WAEC Commissioner Dennis O’Reilly said the count will take longer due to 16 candidates on the ballot
- Hanson and federal Liberal leader Angus Taylor visited Secret Harbour during the campaign
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- ABC says Labor was ahead of the Liberals by 11.5 per cent in Secret Harbour last year, but THEWEST says the margin was nearly 12 per cent
- ABC says One Nation got less than 9 per cent of the vote in Secret Harbour last year, while THEWEST says it was 8.4 per cent
- ABC says Labor and One Nation are now neck and neck, but THEWEST says One Nation is confident of a boilover in the safe Labor seat
- ABC says WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas does not see One Nation as a threat, while THEWEST does not mention his stance explicitly but implies One Nation is a strong contender
- ABC says Herdegen’s sister is not talking to him after he joined One Nation, but THEWEST does not mention this family conflict
Source Articles
Inside One Nation's campaign to conquer Secret Harbour
Secret Harbour in Western Australia has always been a safe Labor seat. One Nation hopes to change that at this weekend's state by-election with its candidate, Luke Herdegen.
Pauline Hanson tells her Secret Harbour One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen to ‘go hard’
Pauline Hanson has told her candidate in Secret Harbour, Luke Herdegen, to ‘go hard’ on the final day of the gruelling campaign as One Nation looks to make history in WA.
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