One Nation Claims Historic Lower House Victory in South Australia
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has achieved a significant milestone, securing its inaugural lower house seat outside of Queensland. David Paton, currently the Deputy Mayor of Adelaide Plains Council, is projected to become the One Nation member for Ngadjuri in the South Australian Parliament. Preliminary vote counts indicate One Nation holds a substantial first preference lead of 5.6 percentage points over their closest rival, Labor candidate Tony Piccolo. Adding to this momentum, the Liberal Party reportedly advised its voters to preference One Nation above Labor in the electorate.
The party’s electoral success in South Australia may extend further, with One Nation also contending in several other key electorates. These include the regional seats of Hammond, MacKillop, and Narungga. The Electoral Commission of South Australia is scheduled to conduct detailed preference counts for these contested seats this week, which will determine the final outcomes.
The broader election landscape in South Australia sees the Labor Party having secured at least 32 seats in the 47-member House of Assembly, a clear majority. The Liberal Party, in contrast, is currently holding onto four seats, with nine electorates still awaiting definitive results.
David Paton: A New Voice for Ngadjuri
David Paton, the incoming One Nation representative for Ngadjuri, is a 55-year-old father with a background in business. His profile on the One Nation SA website highlights a long-standing business partnership with his wife. During his tenure in local government, Paton has championed efforts to “reducing unnecessary expenditure” for ratepayers.
His political philosophy, as articulated on the party’s platform, often contrasts government priorities with the needs of regional communities. “Too often, governments focus on what I call the ‘concrete North’ while ignoring the real North — the farming, regional, and semi-rural communities that feed and support this state,” Paton is quoted as saying. His campaign efforts have been visible across the Narungga electorate, where he has been seen campaigning alongside prominent One Nation figures, including federal leader Pauline Hanson and state leader Cory Bernardi. Paton has expressed optimism about the voter reception, noting that the support received across the electorate has been “overwhelming.”
One Nation’s Broader Ambitions and Upper House Gains
Cory Bernardi, a key figure in One Nation’s South Australian campaign and himself a projected winner of an upper house seat, has declared that the election results will “changed South Australian politics forever.” He remains ambitious about the party’s potential in the lower house, suggesting they are still in contention for “up to six lower house seats.” While acknowledging the challenging nature of these races, Bernardi emphasised that the party is “in the hunt.”
The party’s success in the upper house appears to be even more pronounced. Bernardi anticipates that at least three One Nation candidates will be elected to the Legislative Council. Among those expected to secure a seat are Carlos Quaremba and Rebecca Hewett. Once in office, Bernardi has stated his intention to continue advocating for the repeal of the SA Voice to Parliament.
Pauline Hanson’s “Landmines” Strategy
Senator Pauline Hanson, addressing supporters, likened her party’s elected members to “landmines” strategically placed within the parliamentary system. She suggested that these One Nation representatives would act as a formidable opposition, particularly to Premier Peter Malinauskas. “I’m leaving you some landmines — they’re called One Nation members of parliament,” she declared. “I suggest don’t step on them because they will explode, and that’s what we’re here for — to ensure you get good representation, good government with a good opposition which you have not had in this state for a long time.”
Voter Sentiment: Cost of Living Drives Protest Votes
Interviews with voters reveal that the rising cost of living has been a significant factor influencing electoral decisions, particularly for those casting protest votes for One Nation. Leanne Wilson, a resident of Ashton Hurn’s electorate of Schubert, described her vote for One Nation as a “protest vote.” She expressed widespread dissatisfaction with the performance of mainstream politicians, stating, “I’m sick and tired of what’s going on, the politicians promise the world and give you nothing and we’re going to hell in a hand basket.” Wilson highlighted her personal struggles, explaining, “It’s very hard, we’re living by pension-to-pension … you want to do something and you can’t.”
Greg McCarthy, from the Playford electorate in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, echoed these sentiments. He stated his vote for One Nation was because he felt they were “the only people worth voting for essentially.” McCarthy articulated a common sentiment of disillusionment with the major parties, believing that “Pauline’s doing the right thing standing up for Australia.” The escalating cost of living, particularly concerning rental and house prices, was also a primary concern for him.
Major Parties Reflect on Election Outcomes
Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged that One Nation’s electoral performance should prompt reflection within both the Labor and Liberal parties. Speaking on ABC’s Insiders, Malinauskas stated, “While they’re obviously clearly big questions for the Liberal Party, we shouldn’t be shy from putting the mirror up to ourselves and asking what more we can do, particularly in outer suburban Adelaide and regional South Australia.”
Malinauskas also visited the seat of Unley, one of four electorates Labor gained from the Liberals, and stressed that in an era of “serious volatility,” no political party can afford to be complacent. He observed a complex voter shift, noting, “I think we saw a lot of Liberal voters going to One Nation, but I also think we saw a lot of Liberal voters coming to Labor, and then we saw Labor voters going to One Nation.” He concluded that while the Liberal vote had “collapsed” and the One Nation vote had “surged,” the Labor vote remained “steady.” However, he acknowledged that areas like regional communities and the northern suburbs of Adelaide require greater attention and commitment from politicians.
Liberal leader Ashton Hurn, speaking from the seat of Bragg, one of the few predicted Liberal gains, emphasised the need for the party to “stay true to what our values are.” She reiterated the Liberal Party’s position as a “centre-right party” and stressed the importance of focusing on fundamental principles. Hurn indicated that a period of extensive reflection and analysis would follow the election, but cautioned against radical shifts in party direction, advocating instead to “stay the course.”
