Meet the candidates in one of WA's most closely watched political contests

Western Australia is gearing up for the Secret Harbour by-election, a contest shaping up to be one of the state's most significant political battles in recent times. The election for the outer suburban seat in Perth's south is poised to be a crucial test for One Nation's standing in the region, while also gauging the comeback capabilities of the Labor and Liberal parties.

The election was triggered by the resignation of long-serving Labor member Paul Papalia, who represented the beachside seat for over 19 years. Papalia announced his departure to focus on family matters, stating, "For most of my married life, my family have sacrificed their interests in favour of my service... It's time they got a better share of my time and energy."

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For most of my married life, my family have sacrificed their interests in favour of my service, first in the military and for much of the last two decades in politics. It's time they got a better share of my time and energy. I'm sorry for my unplanned departure from parliament and the by-election it will trigger.

Candidates vying for the seat include Georgia Tree for Labor, Ryan Robertson for the Liberal Party, Luke Herdegen representing One Nation, Rhi Davies from the Greens, and Craig Buchanan from the Legalise Cannabis party. Election day is set for Saturday, August 29, with early voting commencing on Monday, August 17.

Secret Harbour has traditionally been a safe Labor seat, but political analysts suggest the landscape may be shifting. Political analyst Ben Raue noted that One Nation often performs well in "mortgage belt" areas facing housing and cost-of-living pressures, characteristics that align with Secret Harbour's demographic profile. "A lot of the places where they're expected to do relatively well are on the outer suburbs of all the big cities, and Secret Harbour is about as outer as you can get in Perth," Raue observed.

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A lot of the places where they're expected to do relatively well are on the outer suburbs of all the big cities, and Secret Harbour is about as outer as you can get in Perth.