One Nation’s Luke Herdegen Vows to Disrupt the Status Quo in Secret Harbour

From cost-of-living frustrations to culture wars and campaign transparency, we break down where the One Nation candidate stands as he vows to disrupt the WA Parliament.

Wade McColl (30/07/2026)

Luke Herdegen, One Nation Secret Harbour candidate. Photo: Supplied by Rod Caddies 2026.

As the August 29 Secret Harbour by-election approaches, One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen is positioning himself as the ultimate disruptor against the political establishment.

A gym owner and Kwinana local since 2023, Herdegen is leaning heavily into cost-of-living pressures, housing shortages, and a fierce critique of the Labor Government's current agenda.

From the Gym Floor to the Ballot Box

Herdegen points to his varied career, spanning roles as an electrical trade assistant, concreter, and traffic controller, before finding his footing in fitness and nutrition. Running five Anytime Fitness gyms in the region, he says his daily interactions with locals exposed a deep community frustration.

"I know that they feel ignored by the political class, and they've seen their safe, affordable suburbs become more expensive and less safe with every passing year," Herdegen said. "There is a mood for change, and One Nation is the best vehicle for an Australia-first agenda that can radically shake up the status quo."

He draws a sharp contrast between himself and WA Labor candidate Georgia Tree, framing the by-election as a definitive two-horse race.

"The difference between Labour's candidate and me could not be more stark. She left the community almost as soon as she reached adulthood and set up roots in the inner-city; I moved to WA to put down roots in this community," Herdegen stated. "Labor will deliver the status quo and a rubber stamp. One Nation will disrupt the status quo and expose Labour's failures."

Mass Immigration, Housing, and Cost of Living

Luke Herdegen, One Nation Secret Harbour candidate (pictured in black shirt) on Memorial Drive, Rockingham. Photo: Supplied by Phil Edman 2026.

When asked about key local issues like housing stress and rising living costs, Herdegen pointed directly to federal and state immigration numbers and government spending as the primary drivers.

"How can we expect to have enough houses when we're bringing in immigrants faster than we're building houses?" Herdegen asked. "My role in Parliament, if the voters send me there, will be to fight the agenda of managed decline, mass immigration and woke nonsense being pushed by this Labor Government."

Rejecting short-term cash relief, he argued that broader policy resets are required to fix the economy.

"We are spending too much - that's causing inflation. We've crippled our energy infrastructure - that's why power is so expensive. We're importing too many people - that's why we don't have enough homes, and why wages are being depressed."

On local homelessness, Herdegen called the rise of middle-class homelessness gut-wrenching and heavily criticized the state's failure to utilize existing facilities like the Bullsbrook Quarantine Centre.

"They claim the remote location and lack of surrounding services make the site unviable as crisis accommodation - I call BS. With the amount of cash this Government is throwing at their pet projects, I am not convinced they cannot provide basic transport and support services on-site in Bullsbrook."

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Culture Wars and Campaign Transparency

Luke Herdegen, One Nation Secret Harbour candidate, standing with One Nations Pauline Hanson. Photo: Facebook

Addressing criticisms that One Nation focuses too heavily on social issues, such as opposing drag storytimes, rather than economic policies, Herdegen defended the party's dual focus.

"One of the charming little games the left plays is pushing radical social agendas, and then turning around and accusing us of culture wars for opposing them," he said. "Why do they defend the indefensible, like men in inappropriate costumes reading to little kids?"

"I am focused on the well-being of the community. Yes, the primary issue is financial at the moment. But culture matters too, as does the innocence of children. And I make no apologies for standing up for common sense on these issues."

Herdegen also addressed mainstream media coverage regarding a 2019 blog post about his past drug recovery and the subsequent deactivation of his social media accounts.

"I took my personal social media pages down, as did Mrs Tree, to avoid my friends and relatives from being associated with what could potentially be a contentious election," Herdegen explained. "I certainly won’t shy away from past mistakes or struggles, it’s those that give me the experience, courage and resilience to stand up for the people of this community."

Environmental Stance

Jarrahdale Forest Alcoa Mining Pits. Photo by Wade McColl, Baldivis Times, 2026.

On climate policy and local coastal concerns, Herdegen backed One Nation's federal stance against Net Zero, calling it economic hysteria while taking a critical view of global emission targets.

"Australia accounts for a rounding error in terms of global emissions. Even if we outlawed every petrol car, bombed every coal and gas power station, plunged Australia into darkness and hit net zero tomorrow, within a year or two, India and China's increases in annual emissions would more than make up for it," Herdegen said. "I refuse to buy into the Net Zero hysteria that is destroying our economy."

He did not offer specific local infrastructure proposals regarding Secret Harbour coastal erosion or the Point Peron pipeline.

Day One Priority

Acknowledging that a single crossbench MP cannot pass legislation alone in the lower house, Herdegen stated his primary goal would be aggressive oversight.

"Calling them out! The significance of a One Nation win in Secret Harbour is not the legislation I can pass... So what can I do? I can expose the elitist, out-of-touch, negligent political class that fills that chamber."