Australia’s far‑right One Nation party secured a seat in a state parliament that had been under the control of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre‑left Labor Party for many years, extending a recent wave of electoral gains that began with the group’s inaugural victory in the national lower house.
Gym owner Luke Herdegen delivered One Nation’s first lower‑house triumph in Western Australia, according to the official tally released on Sunday. His victory in the capital city of Perth captured a constituency that had traditionally been a Labor stronghold, marking a notable shift in the political setting of the state.
The win follows a period in which One Nation, under the leadership of Senator Pauline Hanson, surpassed Labor in a national opinion poll for the first time in June. That polling success came shortly after the party achieved its initial seat in the federal House of Representatives, signaling a growing resonance with voters.
Founded in 1997, One Nation spent much of its early existence on the political margins. Its uncompromising stance on immigration has recently attracted additional support, a trend linked to widespread public frustration over housing shortages, rising living costs, and an overall decline in confidence toward Australia’s major parties.
The outcome highlights the mounting pressure One Nation places on both the centre‑left and centre‑right establishments, as the party translates rising poll figures into tangible legislative representation. This development intensifies the strategic calculations of the major parties ahead of the upcoming state election in Victoria later this year.
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Senior federal Labor minister Tanya Plibersek addressed the result in televised remarks, emphasizing that the Labor Party must consider how to better convey its commitment to delivering concrete outcomes for everyday Australians. She suggested that clearer communication could alleviate the pressures that voters are currently feeling.
Herdegen described his victory in the Perth suburb of Secret Harbour as a “huge message” directed at Labor both within Western Australia and across the nation. In remarks broadcast by News24, he asserted that the win demonstrates the absence of any guaranteed Labor seats anywhere in the country.
The by‑election saw Herdegen defeat a Labor newcomer after long‑time incumbent Paul Papalia stepped down, citing a family medical issue. The electorate, which has undergone several boundary adjustments and name changes over the decades, had been continuously held by Labor since the late 1980s, showing the significance of the upset.
Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard. © 2026 Thomson Reuters.