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One Nation wins WA by-election, prompts bipartisan alarm in Australia

politicsAug 30, 202634457

One Nation's Luke Herdegen won the Secret Harbour by-election in Perth's south, delivering a massive swing against Labor in a seat Labor had held for decades. The poll was triggered by the retirement of long-serving MP Paul Papalia, who left to care for a sick family member. WA Premier Roger Cook said Labor would listen to the result and that it was "a reminder that Western Australians are doing it tough." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned at Labor's state conference that "hard-right populists" such as One Nation pose a dangerous, divisive threat and said the party has "no serious answers" to real problems. Federal One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce praised Pauline Hanson for changing politics and signalled the party will press its gains nationally. Labor spent about $400,000 on the campaign and sent more than 200,000 pieces of mail; Labor candidate Georgia Tree conceded on Sunday. Separately, reporting says One Nation MP David Farley has told colleagues he is in escalating conflict with the party and may quit to sit as an independent.

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