Pauline Hanson says her One Nation's party's successes overnight are "vindication" of her 30 years in politics. Photo / Getty Images
One Nation has claimed several seats in the South Australian state election, with the party’s national matriarch Pauline Hanson saying she feels “vindicated” by the results.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has led Labor to an easy win in the state, but Hanson’s far-right populist party – which has been riding a resurgence in popularity – has won at least one Lower House seat and is on track for three Upper House seats.
One Nation was polling at more than 21% of the vote, ahead of the Liberal Opposition on 19%.
Sky News chief election analyst Tom Connell said One Nation’s Robert Roylance had won the Lower House seat of Hammond, while the party has picked up at least two Upper House seats.
The seat of Mackillop is another seat that could go One Nation’s way.
South Australia leader Cory Bernardi, the former Liberal senator, will be in the Upper House after easily claiming a seat.
Bernardi told supporters on Saturday night he was “smiling because today, an earthquake has rattled the foundations of uni-party politics in South Australia”.
“And I promise you there is more to come,” he said to cheers and applause.
“Friends, we’re here and quite rightly, we should be very proud of what we achieved.
“We don’t know the ultimate result as yet because [of] the electoral system and the quirks of our voting and preferences will flow through later in the week.
“But I can assure you, One Nation will have the strongest voice in the South Australian Parliament that it has ever had before.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas has declared victory as vote-counting indicates a Labor landslide of historic proportions.
Taking to the stage at Labor’s election HQ to chants of “four more years”, Malinauskas said he was “humbled”.
“More than anything else, tonight, I’m overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude,” he told party faithful.
“A gratitude to so many people who have provided this Government the opportunity to be able to continue to serve. To be able to continue our work of making sure that the momentum in South Australia delivers for the people who deserves it most, and those are the people of South Australia.”
Conceding the election, Opposition leader Ashton Hurn told supporters at party headquarters that “lessons must be learned”.
“It’s a tough night for the Liberals. There’s absolutely no doubt about it that things are tough and lessons must be learned,” she said.
“There are a lot of things that we need to reflect on. But now is not the time for that.
“Now is the time to celebrate the Liberal cause ... and to give hope for the future, because there is still hope for the Liberal future here in South Australia.”
While Hurn congratulated Malinauskas on his win, Hanson had a warning for him.
“I am leaving tomorrow to go to Canberra to continue my duties,” she told a crowd of One Nation volunteers.
“But guess what, mate. I’m leaving you some landmines. They’re called One Nation members of Parliament.
“So I suggest you 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.”
Early results at about 8pm (local time) had the populist party’s primary vote spiking to 24%, well ahead of the Liberal Party.
Speaking with Sky News from One Nation’s official election night function, Hanson shared her growing optimism at claiming seats in the upper and lower house for the party.
“I think in a lot of ways, I feel vindicated for my being in this game for 30 years, that I’ve been fighting for this – to give people back their voice,” she said, adding that she feels “different”.
“I’m excited but ... I’ve been in this position before and then it all just falls apart with preferences and the rest of it.
“I feel in so many ways, to see the potential, the hope that we’re getting at the moment, that it’s not just a dream, that this is happening.”
Hanson said her decades of effort had been noted by overjoyed supporters on Saturday night.
“They’re so excited, and they can see the change. And I’ve been getting hugs and kisses and people thanking me for hanging around, not giving up, but this is the start of it,” she declared.
“And I’m going to go after [the seat of] Farrer, and we’re going to look at the Victorian state elections. People are crying out for One Nation down there.
“So it’s a movement that’s happening, but it’s not about Pauline Hanson, it’s about the people themselves.”
Shortly before 8pm (local time), Sky News called the election for Labor, with no path to victory for the Liberal Party or a surging One Nation.
This means Malinauskas will return as Premier for a second term.
At the time, Sky had called the seats of West Torrens, Waite, Croydon, Florey, Lee and Elder for Labor.
Who will become the state’s next Opposition leader remains in doubt though, with One Nation’s primary vote spiking to nearly 24% in early counting, with the Liberals at 19%.
Former 7News journalist and South Australia member of the legislative council (MLC) Frank Pangallo threw in the towel on his bid for a Lower House seat barely an hour after the polls closed.
He told the Advertiser he had conceded defeat in the seat of Waite to Labor’s Catherine Hutchesson.
Shortly after 7pm local time, Pangallo commended Liberal leader Ashton Hurn for her efforts, lauding her as an “exceptional leader who just didn’t have enough time to steer the ship from the iceberg”.
He said he would be “hitting the sack”.
Addressing the surprise decision on the 7News panel, federal Senator for South Australia Alex Antic said he was a fan of Pangallo – but it was a bit early to be headed for bed.
Former Liberal leader David Speirs, who was convicted of drug supply less than a year ago, has failed to regain his seat.
Speirs ran as an independent in the seat of Black, and managed to pick up about 14% of the primary vote.
The seat was retained by Labor’s Alex Dighton, who took over after Speirs’ resignation in 2024.
Speaking to 7News, One Nation’s leader in South Australia said the party was pleased with the early results but was “not getting carried away quite yet”.
“It seems like it’s a reward for the effort for the volunteers and it does seem to reflect that there’s a mood for change,” Cory Bernardi said.
Bernardi said he was optimistic on the party’s chances in the upper house, but recognised preferences could create additional hurdles in the lower house.
He praised party leader Hanson, who he said had been indefatigable on the campaign trail, declaring her “one of the greatest political figures this country has ever seen”.
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