Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has achieved a historic breakthrough, winning its first lower house seat in South Australia, the ABC projects.
David Paton, currently the Deputy Mayor of the Adelaide Plains Council, is poised to turn into the One Nation member for the Ngadjuri electorate. On the latest count, One Nation leads Labor candidate Tony Piccolo by 5.6 percentage points, and the Liberal Party advised voters to preference One Nation over Labor.
The party is as well competitive in the regional seats of Hammond, MacKillop, and Narungga, with preference counts scheduled this week by the Electoral Commission of South Australia.
Labor has secured at least 32 seats in the 47-member House of Assembly, while the Liberal Party currently holds four. Nine seats remain undecided.
One Nation federal leader Pauline Hanson and state leader Cory Bernardi campaigned alongside David Paton in Narungga, where he reported “overwhelming” support. According to his party’s Facebook account, Paton is a 55-year-old father with a long-standing business partnership with his wife.
His profile on the One Nation SA website states a commitment to “reducing unnecessary expenditure” for ratepayers and argues that governments often prioritize “the concrete North” over farming, regional, and semi-rural communities.
Several voters cited cost-of-living pressures as a key factor in their decision to support One Nation. Leanne Wilson, a voter in Schubert, described her vote as a “protest vote,” stating she and her husband are “living by pension-to-pension” and struggling financially. Greg McCarthy, from Playford, said he voted for One Nation because they are “the only people worth voting for” and are “standing up for Australia.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas acknowledged the results on ABC’s Insiders, suggesting both major parties should reflect on the outcome, particularly in outer suburban Adelaide and regional South Australia. He noted that voters appeared to be shifting between Labor, the Liberals, and One Nation.
Liberal leader Ashton Hurn, speaking from the seat of Bragg, stated the party must “stay true to what our values are” and focus on “the basics.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What seat did One Nation win?
One Nation won the seat of Ngadjuri in South Australia’s parliament.
Who is the One Nation member for Ngadjuri?
David Paton, the current Deputy Mayor of the Adelaide Plains Council, is set to become the One Nation member for Ngadjuri.
What was Pauline Hanson’s reaction to the election results?
Pauline Hanson stated she was “leaving” South Australia with “landmines” – referring to the newly elected One Nation members of parliament – for Premier Peter Malinauskas.
As South Australia’s political map shifts, what role will cost-of-living concerns play in future elections?