Why One Nation Flipped Labor’s Safe Seat of Secret Harbour

One Nation captured the Secret Harbour seat in a recent Western Australian by‑election, ending a Labor hold that dated back to at least 1989.

Labor’s primary vote collapsed, dropping 23 percentage points, while One Nation enjoyed a 19‑point swing in its favour.

Many voters said they were fed up with the rising cost of living, tight housing markets and a feeling that politicians no longer understood their daily struggles.

Labor’s candidate, Georgia Tree, lived about 60 km away from the electorate. Although her campaign knocked on 19,000 doors and sent more than 210,000 pieces of mail, voters still saw her as out of touch.

The ABC reported that internal Labor polling before the vote already indicated One Nation was likely to win, suggesting the party’s momentum was evident early on.

The result highlights how a combination of economic frustration and perceived disconnect can turn a traditionally safe seat into a protest victory for a minor party.

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