Archive · 30 Aug 2026
One Nation wins historic Labor-held Western Australia seat
One Nation won a seat in Western Australia’s state Parliament.
Its candidate, Luke Herdegen, received 57 percent of the vote.
He defeated the Labor candidate, who received 43 percent.
The seat is in Secret Harbour, near Perth.
Labor had held the seat since 1989.
The election happened after Labor politician Paul Papalia resigned because of a family medical issue.
One Nation has been gaining support from people worried about housing and the cost of living.
The party also takes a strict position on immigration.
Labor said it needs to do more to show voters how it is helping them.
One Nation said the result showed that Labor can no longer consider any seat safe.
Luke Herdegen won 57% of the vote in the Secret Harbour by-election, defeating Labor’s candidate with 43%.
The victory gave One Nation its first Lower House seat in Western Australia’s state Parliament.
The Perth-area seat had been held by Labor since 1989 before Paul Papalia resigned over a family medical issue.
The Liberal Party finished third with about 17% of the vote, according to one report.
The result highlights One Nation’s growing support amid concerns about immigration, housing costs and living expenses.
- Who
- One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen defeated a Labor candidate; the result affects One Nation, Labor and the Liberal Party.
- What
- One Nation won its first Lower House seat in Western Australia’s state Parliament.
- When
- The official result was reported on Sunday, August 30, after the by-election; about 75% of ballots had been counted in one report.
- Where
- The seat is in Secret Harbour, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia.
- Why
- The by-election followed Paul Papalia’s resignation, while One Nation has gained support amid concerns about immigration, housing shortages, high living costs and declining support for major parties.
Labor’s perspective
One Nation’s perspective
Meaning of the result
Labor’s perspective
Senior Labor minister Tanya Plibersek said the party should consider how to better communicate its efforts to deliver relief for ordinary Australians.
One Nation’s perspective
Herdegen called the result a huge message to Labor and said there were no safe Labor seats in Western Australia or nationally.
Policy priorities
Labor’s perspective
Plibersek said Labor is the only party focused on delivering measures to take pressure off ordinary Australians.
One Nation’s perspective
One Nation has attracted support with a hard line on immigration and by linking high immigration to housing shortages and rising living costs.
Political direction
Labor’s perspective
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticised hard-right populism as dangerous, divisive and dishonest.
One Nation’s perspective
Pauline Hanson said Australians wanted hope and a political force willing to challenge the establishment and fight for them.
- Winner
- Luke Herdegen of One Nation
- Vote result
- Herdegen received 57%; Labor received 43%
- Seat
- Secret Harbour, in Perth, Western Australia
- Historical significance
- One Nation’s first Lower House seat in Western Australia’s state Parliament
- Previous holder
- Labor had held the constituency since 1989
- By-election trigger
- Paul Papalia resigned, citing a family medical issue
- Liberal result
- The Liberal Party finished third with about 17% of the vote
- Government impact
- Because Labor holds an absolute majority in the state Parliament, the result is not expected to threaten government stability
