Pauline Hanson Praises Basil Zempilas After One Nation Wins First WA Lower House Seat

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has publicly thanked Western Australia’s Liberal leader Basil Zempilas for directing preferences to her party in the Secret Harbour by‑election, calling him a “man of vision and common sense” after One Nation secured its first seat in the state’s lower house.

Luke Herdegen cruised to victory in the outer‑suburban electorate, which had been held by Labor for nearly two decades. The Liberals placed One Nation third on their how‑to‑vote card, behind the Australian Christians a decision Zempilas acknowledged played a key role in the final result.

Despite criticism from federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, who suggested the Liberals had “run dead” during the campaign, Zempilas rejected the claim. Hastie’s federal seat of Canning overlaps Secret Harbour, leaving him exposed to One Nation’s growing support at the next election.

Zempilas maintained the Liberals campaigned properly but conceded the party “could do better” as it reassesses its strategy in the wake of One Nation’s breakthrough win.