Premier Roger Cook faced the media this morning after One Nation secured a decisive win in the Secret Harbour by-election. The result gives the party its first-ever seat in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly and is likely to have significant implications for Western Australian politics.
With 75 per cent of votes counted on Sunday afternoon, One Nation’s Luke Herdegen secured 57.1 per cent of the vote on a two-party-preferred basis, while Labor’s Georgia Tree attracted 42.9 per cent. The result indicates an 18.6 per cent swing in what had been considered a safe Labor seat.
The Premier said it was clear the vote had not gone Labor’s way and that his government would listen to the message sent by voters in Secret Harbour.
“This campaign has been a reminder that Western Australians are doing it tough, and we know in this time of higher interest rates and fuel prices, people are concerned about their livelihoods and their futures.
“This campaign has also been a reminder of how important our priorities for this state are: jobs, health, housing, and assisting with the cost of living,” Mr Cook said.
“My team will continue to get out and talk to our communities, listen to their concerns, and do everything within our powers to make their lives better.”
The Premier said by-elections always bring a mix of anxieties, issues and concerns, and said he did not believe outer suburban areas such as Secret Harbour should now be regarded as One Nation heartland.
“We’ve never taken the community for granted,” the Premier said. “Which is why we continue to work hard in all our electorates. This will be no different from any other.”
Mr Cook said many people had told him during the campaign that they were grateful for a range of initiatives the government had implemented to assist with cost-of-living pressures. He cited fuel support payments, student assistance payments and cheaper public transport fares, but conceded that for many people the measures were not enough.
The Premier also dismissed a suggestion from One Nation WA leader Rod Caddies that his leadership would come under pressure following the election loss.
“Obviously he’ll talk about that because he’s got no policies to talk about,” the Premier said.
“One Nation actually said they don’t have any policies, any ideas, or any solutions on how they will help the people of Secret Harbour. We are out there talking about ideals and about how we can make Western Australia a great place to live.”
