Secret Harbour by-election pits Labor against One Nation in high-stakes test
Voters in Western Australia’s Secret Harbour electorate will decide today which party fills the seat vacated by retiring Labor minister Paul Papalia, with One Nation hoping to turn growing frustration with major parties into a parliamentary win.
Secret Harbour, a beachside suburb south of Perth, is holding a by-election after Labor veteran Paul Papalia stepped down. Labor’s nominee, Georgia Tree, highlights her working-class background and criticises opponents for lacking local ties. The Liberal ticket is headed by Ryan Robertson, a former navy submariner now serving as a City of Rockingham councillor.
One Nation’s candidate, former weight-lifting champion Luke Herdegen, is banking on the party’s recent rise in the east and hopes to capture voters disillusioned with the major parties. The Greens and Legalise Cannabis parties also contest, while the Nationals have urged supporters to back the Liberals. Political observers say the result will indicate whether One Nation can convert its growing support into a lower-house seat in WA, a development that could reshape future state-wide contests.
Why it matters
The outcome will show if One Nation can break Labor’s hold on a traditionally safe seat, signaling shifting voter sentiment in WA.
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