Sharri Markson:
And speaking of One Nation, it looks like they might be on track to win a Labour seat at the Secret Harbour by election in WA this weekend. And this would be a defining moment in Australian politics, and a true test of the party’s popularity. Because state Labour currently holds the seat by an 11.5% margin. Joining me now to discuss this and other big stories today, the IPA’s chief economist, Adam Creighton. And The Australian’s associate editor, Jenna Clarke. Great to see you both. Adam, if One Nation does win this safe Labour seat, do you think the Albanese government will start to readjust their attitude towards the threat of Pauline Hanson?
Adam Creighton:
Well, certainly they will, and they obviously already have with the immigration policy. There’s going to be very big changes there. It will certainly be a political earthquake if there’s a One Nation victory in this election. You’ve got the Victorian election around the corner, and people like to back winners. So, if there’s a One Nation win in Secret Harbour, that’s obviously going to have a major effect on the Victorian election, which in turn has other effects.
Look, it’s hard to tell. There’s 16 candidates. Labor’s not tracking that well. They had a 25% sweep against them in the last state election, yet they still held it. So this historically is a very Labour seat. But at the last election, state election, I think One Nation got 8.4%, which for that time was a lot. Certainly a lot more than they got statewide. So, the One Nation candidate’s very popular. I hear he’s already trying to sell his gym chain. So, let’s just see what happens.
Sharri Markson:
Jenna, you’re in Perth. Can you tell us a bit more detail about this? And I also think it’s interesting that I understand this state seat covers the same geographic territory as Andrew Hastie’s federal seat. Now, we know that One Nation supporter and donor, Gina Rinehart, is said to dislike Hastie because of his role in giving evidence against Ben Roberts-Smith. So, should Hastie also be worried that he might lose his seat of Canning to One Nation?
Jenna Clarke:
You’re right, Sharri, that overlaps. A Secret Harbour in the state election will overlap with the seat of Canning federally. And I think Andrew Hastie has already made it pretty clear that he feels he is like Labour in the fight for his life at this point in time, because he’s copying it from both the One Nation aspect and also the Gina Rinehart funding a One Nation branch in his electorate.
And I think it’s really interesting, because this is the outer metropolitan seat. And when you speak to people like Andrew Hastie and a lot of people on foods and in those areas around Mandurah, like Lakelands and Golden Bay and things like that, they feel forgotten. And I think that it’s harking back to 2019, the forgotten Australians, those quiet Australians. And then, I see that the West Australian is reporting today where it’s looking to be a One Nation victory, which is going to be quite historic considering we’re only just a year from a state election where Roger Cook is still quite popular. The knives are not out for him yet. This is a referendum on Anthony Albanese and the cost of living and immigration, as both Matt and Adam have just said.
Sharri Markson:
Yeah, it’d be fascinating to see how this One Nation trend plays out at the Victorian election in November, and then New South Wales in March. And whether it does take seats away from Labour, but probably more likely from the coalition.
All right, let’s turn to this other story, The Daily Telegraph revealing today that a violent transgender criminal who was born male has now been transferred to a women’s prison. Now, Adam, this comes despite the New South Wales government outright promising that this wouldn’t happen, that transgenders born biologically as men would not be put in women’s prisons.
Adam Creighton:
Yeah. Well, my understanding is the New South Wales government is somewhat apologetic for this. And I understand the acting premier, or at least the relevant minister, has said that this is going to change. And they do believe in the biological definition of women, the New South Wales government as I understand it, and they’re going to rectify this situation. I think there’s 45 out of 46 trans prisoners, and I think 45 of them, except this one that you just mentioned, are in the correct prison. So, I think it’s great that The Telegraph has highlighted this. And as far as I understand it, it’s going to be fixed.
Sharri Markson:
Jen, I think Australians are very tolerant, but this flies in the face of women’s rights and could be a safety issue.
Jenna Clarke:
Absolutely. And as we’re seeing this happen in New South Wales, it’s also happened in Perth, Sharri. The West Australian have reported just a couple of weeks ago, their senior reporter, Ben Harvey had this incredible exclusive that a violent murderer, I believe, transitioned whilst in prison and now wants to transfer out of the men’s prison into the female prison due to their safety. So you can imagine the public response to that and the letters to the editor. As you say, Australians are very tolerant until it comes to things like this.
Sharri Markson:
Yeah, exactly. Look, turning to Victoria, Adam, where you’re living now. Businesses are furious at Premier Ben Carroll over these controversial laws allowing employees to work from home up to two days a week. Now, the Business Council of Australia has come out against this. They said that they thought they had this constructive meeting with the premier, but now they’ve been left in the dark. Now, Adam, I thought he was trying to neutralise this issue by pushing it back to mid 2027.
Adam Creighton:
Well, so did I. And look, he has kicked it off to next year, but not the legislation. It’s still going to go forth in this current parliament, and be passed. And of course, as you know, once things are passed, they’re very hard to reverse. And so, I’ve personally been very disappointed with the new premier. I thought he was a sensible right faction Labour guy who was going to listen to business. Because this legislation is obviously ridiculous. There’s nothing else like it in the world. I mean, 36% of workers already work from home in some form, according to the ABS, and there’s just absolutely no need for this legislation. Victoria is already the worst state in the Commonwealth to do business. Multiple surveys have said that. The payroll tax is the highest, the regulation’s the highest, the tax rates are the highest by far. And then you introduce this as well, it’s just the opposite of what the state needs right now. So, I think he’s done himself a real disservice.
Sharri Markson:
Jen, a lot of people are working flexibly, but the point is this should be an arrangement between an employer and an employee, because not everyone in all businesses can work from home. It shouldn’t be something that the government is getting involved in.
Jenna Clarke:
Yeah. Once again, this is legislators who probably should work from home, because this is absolutely ridiculous and a waste of taxpayers’ and legislators’ time. I think the only thing that is being productive in this type of legislation is someone like myself doing my washing and my lunch break. It’s ridiculous.
Sharri Markson:
Well, I hope you got your washing done today, Jenna. Seeing as you’re probably working from home. No, but in all seriousness, I do support working from home for mothers, but it’s got to be an arrangement between an employer and an employee, because that can help keep many women in the workforce, whereas they’d otherwise have to quit. And then you have companies without women, because often women need to pick kids up from school, et cetera.
Anyway, Jenna, I think this one might just be for you, this topic. Although I will get your thoughts in it, Adam, so don’t go tuning out over there. Now, there are two competing podcasts with the women involved in this Lachie Neale cheating scandal. The first podcast was Neale’s ex-wife, Jules, and it was the tell-all. And now the second, her former best friend, Tess Crosley, who had the affair with Neale. She then did her own podcast. Now, Jenna, far be it for me to give an opinion on this, but hey, I give one on everything else, so why not? Surely there’s only one victim here, the wife, Jules.
Jenna Clarke:
Yes, indeed. But I think hats off to Jules, she has played a blinder. Look, her ex-husband has won two Brownlow medals, but she’s a real star of this situation because she signed with a brand new manager. And so, basically what they have done, they have teamed up with someone else that is in her as talent stable. So, it’s basically promoting this, not a very well-known podcast. It’s being sponsored by a beauty product as well. It’s chef kiss. It’s perfect. She has played this like the Princess of Wales, Catherine Middleton. And look, I think everyone is waiting with bated breath to see the alleged mistress’s side of the story when she speaks to a tabloid news outlet when that drops later tonight. But this coming after the Sydney Swans saga and just before the finals kicks off, it just goes to show just how much of a cultural issue there is at the AFL at this point in time.
Sharri Markson:
Yeah. And I think people didn’t really realise the extent of the cultural issues at the AFL. Everyone maybe often though it was an NRL issue. Adam, your expert opinion on this, the podcast was?
Adam Creighton:
Well, look. No, look, I must confess I’d not actually heard of any of these people until 35 minutes ago, but I do understand one of the aggrieved parties has moved to Western Australia, which was quite a savvy move given the GST deal. So, she’ll be enjoying all of that largess for many years to come.
Sharri Markson:
You just weave a cheating footballer into a GST productivity commission Albanese government war.
Adam Creighton:
That’s right.
Sharri Markson:
Why not.
Jenna Clarke:
Wonderful.
Sharri Markson:
All right. Jenna Clarke, Adam Creighton, great to see you.
This transcript of Adam Creighton on Sharri – News24 from 27 August 2026 has been edited for clarity.
