Pauline Hanson has said the historic surge in One Nation votes during the South Australian election is ‘just the start’ of her party’s political earthquake.
Labor was expected to easily win Saturday’s election, but all eyes were on One Nation and whether it could meet polling expectations.
The ALP’s re-election was called by ABC News when 2.1 per cent of ballots had been counted.
Labor held 45.7 per cent of the vote, with the Liberals on 15.6 per cent and One Nation sitting on 19.5 per cent in metropolitan seats.
‘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,’ Hanson said to supporters on Saturday night.
‘People are crying out for One Nation down there so there is a movement that is happening.
‘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.’
One Nation has yet to win a single seat in the lower house, but Hanson remains confident in her ‘orange wave’.
Pauline Hanson has said the historic surge in One Nation votes during the South Australian election is ‘just the start’
Labor was expected to easily win Saturday’s election, but all eyes were on One Nation
Re-elected Premier Peter Malinauskas (pictured) said he would work with Liberal leader Ashton Hurn and One Nation’s Cory Bernardi over the next four years
‘We don’t know if we’re going to have one, two, three seats. We’re not sure,’ she said.
Before polls closed, Adelaide University emeritus professor of politics Clem Macintyre said the rise of One Nation had the potential to create a watershed moment in Australian politics and signal the end of two-party politics 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 ended her speech to supporters with a parting 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 buzzing Labor headquarters to celebrate his party’s success.
Nadia Clancy MP on left at the Labor Party celebratory post election function
In her concession speech, the Liberals’ Ashton Hurn (pictured) said she would continue to lead her party over the next four years
‘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.
Malinauskas said it was a sign that his state government should ‘work our guts out for the next four years’.
He also acknowledged Liberal leader Ashton Hurn and One Nation’s Cory Bernardi, promising to work with them over the next four 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 said.
In her concession speech, Hurn said she would continue to lead her 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.
‘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.’
