WA One Nation candidate for Secret Harbour Luke Herdegen is seen at the Coastal Lakes College Polling Place in Perth, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. AAP Image/Richard Wainwright
What did voters have to say?
The conservative-leaning One Nation has won a Western Australian (WA) lower house with an emphatic victory in the southern Perth seat of Secret Harbour.
Local business owner Luke Herdegen claimed the win after securing 39 percent of first-preference votes, well ahead of Labor candidate Georgia Tree on 24 percent.
After preferences were distributed, Herdegen defeated Tree by 57 percent to 43 percent on the two-candidate-preferred count in the once-solid Labor seat.
The by-election was triggered by the retirement of former Labor Minister Paul Papalia, who has represented the area since 2007.
One Nation voter Dean (surname withheld) said his decision was driven by a desire to try something different.
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“[One Nation is] gaining traction for a lot of reasons. If we don’t try something else, we’re never going to get anywhere, anyway,” he told The Epoch Times.
“The problem is the other parties that we’ve had recently aren’t listening to the people. I think it’s time for something new, so that’s why I decided to vote a different way.”
Political corflutes at a polling station in the electorate of Secret Harbour in Perth, Australia on Aug. 29, 2026. The Epoch Times
New One Nation volunteer, Robbie, pointed to cost of living and crime as drivers.
“Basically we know fuel prices are rising, and they’re looking to slash that in half,” he told The Epoch Times.
“There’s a lot of delinquents out there, using drugs and causing a lot of trouble. It will be a lot better to have a strong police situation going on.”
Voters Looking for Alternative
Liberal MLC Michelle Boylan said housing affordability and the rising cost of living were among the biggest issues raised by residents during the campaign.
“People are very unhappy with state and federal government,” she told The Epoch Times.
“They think that federal Labor made it harder for their children to buy a house, and they’ve seen nothing but the cost of living go up.”
For some residents, Boylan says the by-election was an opportunity to really drive change and send a message to Labor at both the state and federal levels.
Some Voters Remain Cautious
That appetite for change was not shared by every voter, however.
One voter who goes by “Rita” agreed that political parties needed to listen more closely to the people and support young Australians.
She was uncomfortable with what she regarded as One Nation’s “angry” political style.
“I like them to be a bit more civil,” she said, adding that she wanted the leaders to be more mild mannered.
Port Kennedy resident Robyn remained supportive of Labor, pointing to initiatives such as free TAFE courses and the use of mining royalties to fund services in WA.
Robyn was sceptical of One Nation’s migration policies.
“[Pauline Hanson] came from somewhere, but nobody’s told us where,” she said. “Her ancestors must have come from a European country.”
Robyn also feared One Nation’s proposal to reduce tobacco excise could encourage smoking and create further health problems.
“She’s playing into the hands of the younger people who smoke. People who smoke often die of cancer and other associated cancers.”
