Cook says he would be ‘heartbroken’ if Labor loses Secret Harbour

Premier Roger Cook says it would “break his heart” to lose the seat of Secret Harbour as polls opened in the southern suburbs electorate.

Cook stood aside candidate Georgia Tree at Secret Harbour Primary School just after polls opened where the pair made their final pitch ahead of what is expected to be a strong showing from One Nation’s Luke Herdegen.

“It would break my heart, but we’re in the hands of the people of Secret Harbour today,” Cook said.

“I’m just today immensely proud of the woman that’s standing behind me. I’m immensely proud of the campaign that we’ve run.”

Tree denied Labor had left the electorate in the lurch because it has been such a safe seat for the party with the failure to deliver the Karnup train station a major criticism of Labor during the campaign.

“I think Labor has a really strong story to tell...we’re already building a hospital in Mandurah, we’ve made public transport cheaper, so $2.80 fares from here into the city.

“That’s a palpable, tangible cost of living relief change that WA Labor has implemented. So I don’t think that it’s fair to say that Labor has left this seat in the lurch, absolutely not.”

Down the road at Coastal Lakes College, Herdegen said he remained confident he could wrestle the seat from Labor.

“People want change. They feel like they’ve been neglected and taken for granted down here for too long. Their cost of living’s through the roof, and they’ve just had enough,” he said.

Herdegen said he’d received a call from party leader Pauline Hanson who gave him a “pep talk” and wasn’t concerned she wasn’t joining him on the trail.

“No, I mean she’s the busiest woman in Australia, so I’m sure her schedule was full before this was probably even announced,” he said.

Liberal candidate Ryan Robertson faces an uphill battle with One Nation drawing votes from conservative voters but he said he was still a shot.

“For sure we can win. I think it’s anyone’s game, absolutely,” he said.

“I don’t say that arrogantly, I say that, of course, with humility, but if anyone is going to lead West Australians with honesty and integrity, it’s the WA Liberal Party in my view.”