‘Fearless and ferocious’ Liberal candidate Ryan Robertson full of confidence he can win Secret Harbour seat

Don’t tell Liberal candidate Ryan Robertson he faces mission impossible to win Secret Harbour. History shows the seat bleeds red, with the Labor Party easily winning it at the 2025 State Election. Before that, the electorate was called Warnbro, and the Liberals couldn’t get within a bull’s roar of knocking off Labor in those polls either. But the former navy submariner believes he can write his own history in the August 29 by-election. “I’m going to win,” the 35-year-old told The West Australian. “I don’t think anyone really understands the level of commitment that I put into something. “When I got a task ahead, I am fearless and ferocious. And with skill and resolve, will achieve a great result for the people of Secret Harbour. They’re two mottos of a submariner.” At the 2025 State poll, Labor’s Paul Papalia – who has retired from politics – scored 46 per cent of the primary vote, with the Liberals claiming 25 per cent of first preferences and One Nation 8 per cent. But a resurgent Pauline Hanson has Labor worried that this by-election result will be tight, particularly if Liberal preferences flow to One Nation. Mr Robertson, a former submariner of the year, says he doesn’t stay awake at night worrying about the Hanson juggernaut. “As we would say in the Navy, it (the influence of One Nation) is outside my remit,” he said. “I just focus on what I can do. “There are things I can control, and things I can’t control.” Liberal leader Basil Zempilas has publicly stated One Nation will be preferenced above Labor in this by-election, with Ms Hanson saying she can beat Labor, if Liberal preferences flow her party’s way. But Mr Robertson refuses to publicly weigh in on how his how-to-vote card will look. “That (preferences) is best suited for Basil, it’s not for me to comment on that,” he said. “He and the team would have their view (on preferences) and whatever that view is, I support.” Mr Robertson was born and educated in Melbourne, serving in the Royal Australian Navy from 2009-21. He now works for the Multiply Property Group as a property sales and investment consultant and, last October, became a City of Rockingham councillor representing the Rockingham-Safety Bay Ward. He and his wife Kiara met in Rockingham in 2011, while he was stationed at HMAS Stirling. The couple are now married with three young daughters Macie, 5, Sofia 3 and Charlie, seven months. They purchased a house in Rockingham in 2018, which means he doesn’t live in the Secret Harbour electorate — but points out his home is just “seven kilometres — or a 38-minute run” to the Secret Harbour electorate border. And he says the Rockingham council takes in a big swag of Secret Harbour. Mr Robertson is a passionate believer in the AUKUS agreement, particularly a plan to rotate and maintain nuclear submarines at HMAS Stirling and the Henderson ship building precinct. “(Australia) has a (defence) vulnerability,” Mr Robertson said. “A lethal deterrent submarine force is the only answer in my view that can deter an adversary from trying to take advantage of the national interest and security of Australia. “A nuclear-powered submarine is an effective and lethal capability that will work in favour of protecting that national interest.” He says the eventual arrival of thousands of US and UK sailors to HMAS Stirling at Garden Island and Henderson will add more pressures on housing stocks and facilities in Secret Harbour. “Two-and-a-half thousand-plus people — Americans and from the UK, plus family support staff,” he said. “You’ve also got Westport coming down to Kwinana. “Although it’s outside the electorate it is still bringing in work, bringing in people. The electorate is not getting the attention it deserves because it is a safe (Labor) seat. We need to change that.” He said young people in Secret Harbour were already struggling to get into the housing market, and those who were renting were struggling under the weight of high rental prices. “How can you save money when you are paying $750 a week rent?” Mr Robertson said. The WA Nationals will not contest Secret Harbour.