One Nation names Gym owner Luke Herdegen as candidate in Secret Harbour by-election

A successful gym owner and former national weightlifting champion has been anointed by Pauline Hanson to lead One Nation’s historic tilt a winning the Secret Harbour by-election. The West Australian can reveal Luke Herdegen, a 39-year-old Rockingham businessman who own multiple Anytime Fitness gyms in the southern suburbs, has been chosen by the party from 88 nominees who put themselves forward. “Luke was chosen by the State Executive following a rigorous selection process,” One Nation WA leader Rod Caddies said. “I am very satisfied (with our vetting process). “We used a system which checks everything - adverse media, email screening, phone screening, banned or disqualified persons’ screening, court screening. “We used a global system. It is meant to look throughout the globe (for red flags). “I feel the system has done its job. And of course they (candidates) were scrutinised more in the interview process. “I was part of that process (interview process). “If you look at our last state election, we did not have any speed humps along the way.” On his Instagram, which was taken down on Saturday, Mr Herdegen refers to himself as a multi club owner — referencing Anytime Fitness Australia — as well as being a business consultant and national weightlifting champion. Mr Caddies said Mr Herdegen originally hailed from New South Wales. He said Mr Herdegen had lived in Rockingham for three years. “He grew up earlier in his life in New South Wales,” Mr Caddies said. “He has lived in Rockingam for three years. “He came over to WA before, and then he went back over east before coming back to WA.” Mr Caddies said one of Mr Herdegen’s gyms was in Meadow Springs. “He has got several gyms around the area and one of his businesses is right on the border of Secret Harbour,” Mr Caddies said. “A lot of people at that gym are from the Secret Harbour area.” His weightlifting title came in 2023 at the Australian Weightlifting Federation Masters Championships when he took out the 35-39 age category for men below 81kg. Secret Harbour is a safe Labor seat, with a 12 per cent margin. But the retirement from politics of Paul Papalia and a resurgent One Nation means it is no longer a sure thing for Labor. Ms Hanson recently said she believed One Nation could win Secret Harbour if Liberal preferences flowed to the party. “There are some who will never vote for One Nation, but they might vote for the Libs,” Ms Hanson said. “Preferences could take the seat away from Labor.” Liberal leader Basil Zempilas has already publicly stated, he wants his party to preference One Nation above Labor in this by-election. “To win any seat in WA, or any seat in the country, preferences are always going to count,” Mr Caddies said. One Nation will this by-election seek to do what it has never been able to achieve in WA — win a lower house seat in the WA Parliament. The party currently has two Upper House MPs in Caddies and Phil Scott. “This is an opportunity for the people of Secret Harbour to force Labor to reassess its priorities,” Mr Caddies said. “Electing a One Nation member to the Legislative Assembly will put every other Labor MP on notice. “If we win this seat, hopefully it will wake up all members in the parliament to remind them that thy have to work hard for the people who elected them. “There should be no such thing as a safe seat in Western Australia — every MP must be made to feel they have to deliver for their community to retain their seat.” Mr Caddies identified “cost of living pressures, declining living standards, and broken promises” as the key issues in Secret Harbour. “People in Western Australia are not doing as well as they used to,” Mr Caddies said. “The underlying causes are net zero policies that drive up the price of everything, combined with mismanaged population growth. “Too many people are chasing too few houses, hospital beds, school places, roads and essential services.” But he said One Nation would not be rolling out its own policies till the next State election in 2029. Mr Caddies said Labor were “worried” about the One Nation juggernaut. “I do think they are a little worried from what people have said to me,” Mr Caddies said. “Obviously Labor makes out it is not worried - but they would be. “You can only go from the feel on the ground, and I think we have got a good chance of winning Secret Harbour. “But you never know till polling day. “We could romp it in, or we could go lowly. “But I am confident that there is a lot of people saying they want to vote away from both the major political parties. “And One Nation is looking pretty good.” One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is due in Perth on Tuesday to address a Seven West Media Leadership Matters Breakfast.