Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Makes Historic Gains in South Australian Election
Pauline Hanson has declared that the significant increase in One Nation votes during the South Australian election is just the beginning of what she calls a political earthquake. While Labor was expected to win comfortably, the focus was on One Nation and its potential to meet polling expectations.
In the election, Labor secured 30 out of 47 seats, with the Liberals holding 4 and 13 seats remaining uncertain. According to Electoral Commission figures released late on Saturday night, Labor received 37.8% of the vote, while One Nation garnered 21.7%. The Liberals dropped to third place with 19.1%, and the Greens held 11.6%.
One Nation’s Upper House lead candidate, former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi, has secured his seat, with the party poised to claim two or possibly three seats overall. In the lower house, the party has yet to secure a seat but remains competitive in several electorates where the outcome is still uncertain.
In the rural seat of MacKillop in the state’s southeast, One Nation currently holds a narrow lead over the Liberals, ahead by just 225 votes. The party is also ahead in Hammond, where candidate Robert Roylance is now favored to win. 
Meanwhile, in Light, One Nation is trailing behind Labor as counting resumes on Sunday.
Hanson addressed supporters on Saturday night, stating, “This is the start of it, and I’m going to go after Farrer and we’re going to look at the state Victorian elections.” She emphasized that people are calling for One Nation, indicating a growing movement. “It’s not just a protest vote… you have no idea what the hell has happened in this country, there is a movement and there is an undercurrent and it is people saying we’ve had a gutful, we want our country back.”
She added, “We don’t know if we’re going to have one, two, three seats. We’re not sure.” Before polls closed, Adelaide University emeritus professor of politics Clem Macintyre noted that the rise of One Nation could mark a watershed moment in Australian politics, signaling the end of two-party dominance at the federal level. “If they do make a breakthrough, they’re going to have to work hard to be a more serious and viable alternative government,” he told AAP. “It’s more frustration with the major parties… I think we can still say One Nation is a party of disaffected voters.” 
Hanson concluded her speech to supporters with a message for newly re-elected Premier Peter Malinauskas. “Guess what mate? I’m leaving you some landmines – they’re called One Nation members of parliament,” she said. “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.”
Malinauskas and his family later arrived at a bustling Labor headquarters to celebrate his party’s success. “Although this is the best result our party has ever achieved, it’s very important that no one confuses tonight’s result as adulation,” he said. He emphasized that his state government should “work our guts out for the next four years.” Malinauskas also acknowledged Liberal leader Ashton Hurn and One Nation’s Cory Bernardi, promising to collaborate with them in the coming years.
“I say to both Ashton and Cory Bernardi, along with leaders of other political parties elected to the Parliament tonight, that my government stands ready to work with each and every one of you for as long as it is in the interests of South Australians,” he stated. 
In some seats, the Liberals fell to fourth place behind Labor, One Nation, and the Greens candidates. Hurn, who took over the leadership role just 103 days before the election, expressed her commitment to leading the party. “It’s been a pleasure to be your leader for this campaign and I’m looking forward to leading this party well into the future for the next four years and making sure that we continue to climb back bigger and better,” she said. “Whilst the voters didn’t give us the nod this time, we’ll keep fighting to earn their respect into the future.”
She concluded, “The voters never get it wrong and they’ve sent us a clear message and it’s up to us now to heed that advice and to look forward with a true sense of optimism, because like you, I do see an optimism in South Australia.”
