One Nation MP Luke Herdegen has used his maiden speech in Western Australia’s Parliament to declare that his party intends to govern, warning Labor that his victory in the Secret Harbour byelection was the beginning of a wider political shift.
Speaking for 20 minutes from the dispatch box in front of his parents and about 30 supporters in the public gallery, Mr Herdegen attacked mainstream politics, mass immigration and gender-identity politics while invoking patriotism, Australian culture and the national spirit.
He warned Labor against allowing immigration to “swamp” the country, echoing language used by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in her maiden speech in 1996.
“We will stand up against mass immigration – if you try to swamp our nation with migrants,” Mr Herdegen said.
The MP said his election was not an isolated event and claimed One Nation supporters were preparing to make gains across Australia.
“I stand here alone, the sole One Nation member of this assembly, but I don’t feel lonely because I know my friends are coming,” he said.
“The people are ready to send an orange wave through this chamber and through every chamber in our nation, and no seat on either side will be safe.”
Mr Herdegen also criticised Labor MPs, saying: “Too many of you have never held a real job in your life.” South Perth MP Geoff Baker looked back at Scarborough MP Stuart Aubrey, who had worked as a fly-in, fly-out electrician before entering politics.
He said One Nation was “fighting to win and intend to govern”, adding that the outer southern suburbs were now “One Nation heartland”.
Mr Herdegen attacked Labor’s choice of Georgia Tree as its candidate during the campaign, referring to her work as a Woodside lobbyist and her residence in inner-city Perth.
He accused Labor of treating safe seats as “job programs for party hacks” and said: “The arrogance to attempt to parachute in yet another party apprentice – that fit your current agenda and factional alliances in the face of struggling families is truly astonishing.”
The One Nation MP rejected suggestions that his party was racist, saying accusations of bigotry would not deter it. His speech was met with a standing ovation from supporters.
Mr Herdegen won Secret Harbour from Labor in a byelection prompted by the retirement of former Labor minister Paul Papalia. He secured 39.1 per cent of the primary vote, representing a 30.7 percentage-point swing from the 2025 election, 18 months earlier.
