Luke Herdegen says his troubled past is a story of recovery rather than a reason to reject him. That may be true, but voters are still entitled to ask what One Nation knew before selecting him and whether its law-and-order standards are applied consistently.
One Nation has selected 39-year-old Rockingham businessman Luke Herdegen to contest the Secret Harbour by-election on August 29. Herdegen owns multiple Anytime Fitness gyms in Perth’s southern suburbs and is a former champion weightlifter. He was reportedly selected from a field of 88 prospective candidates as One Nation attempts to capitalise on dissatisfaction over housing, infrastructure, traffic and the cost of living. However, only days after his candidacy was announced, Herdegen’s social-media history began attracting scrutiny.
A candid account of heavy drug and alcohol use
In a personal story published on social media in 2019, Herdegen discussed a difficult period while living in London about a decade ago.
He wrote that he had been using large amounts of cocaine between Thursday and Sunday, taking Valium to sleep and relying on prescription painkillers and strong coffee to continue working during the week. Other reporting described regular weekends involving cocaine, vodka and whisky as he struggled with his mental health and engaged in high-risk behaviour.
Herdegen has not denied writing the account. Instead, he says he shared it to encourage other people to pursue healthier and happier lives.
“That’s a story I put out there to try and help inspire people to live happier and healthier lives,” he told reporters.
Australian Associated Press. (2026, July 22). “Hanson lines up candidate to sniff out by-election win.” AAP Newswire.
He also argued that residents he had spoken with were more interested in housing and cost-of-living pressures than events from his past. That response deserves to be considered fairly. Experiencing addiction, mental distress or a period of reckless behaviour should not permanently exclude somebody from public life. People can recover, accept responsibility and use their experiences to help others.
A history of substance misuse is not, by itself, proof that somebody is unfit for office. But seeking election is different from running a private business. Candidates ask voters to trust them with public money, lawmaking responsibilities and influence over the justice system. It is therefore reasonable to examine not only what happened, but how honestly and responsibly the candidate addresses it now.
Questions over a driving video
Herdegen has also faced questions over an old social-media video reportedly showing him filming while driving, with media reports describing the footage as appearing to show speeding. When questioned, Herdegen reportedly said he did not believe he had filmed himself speeding and that the public could make its own decision. The publicly available reporting does not state that he was charged or convicted in connection with the footage.
That distinction matters. An old video should not be treated as proof of a criminal offence without a police investigation, a verified location, confirmation of the applicable speed limit and other supporting evidence.
Nevertheless, road safety is a legitimate public-interest issue. A prospective parliamentarian should be able to explain the circumstances clearly rather than simply leaving voters to interpret the footage themselves. Politicians are not only responsible for obeying safety laws; they should also be proactive in promoting safe behaviour and setting a positive example for the community. When public figures appear to treat road safety casually, it can undermine important messages about speeding, distracted driving and personal responsibility.
The need for visible leadership on road safety is particularly urgent. By only, 3 July 2026, 112 people had already died on Western Australian roads up from 103 at the same point in 2025 and 91 in 2024—placing the state on track for its highest annual road toll since 2008. The longer-term figures are equally confronting: between 2020 and 2024, 842 people were killed and another 7,605 were seriously injured in reported crashes across WA. Speed was suspected as a contributing factor in 16 per cent of cases involving death or serious injury. These figures demonstrate that road safety still needs considerable improvement and that public leaders should reinforce, not weaken, the message that speeding and distracted driving are unacceptable. Politicians seeking public office have an opportunity and a responsibility to model the cautious, accountable behaviour they expect from everyone else.
Accountability therefore means more than avoiding a criminal conviction. It also means acknowledging conduct that may have created a poor impression, explaining what happened and demonstrating that public safety is taken seriously.
The greater problem may be One Nation’s vetting
The most politically significant aspect of the controversy may not be Herdegen’s past behaviour. It may be what the episode reveals about One Nation’s candidate-selection process.
WA One Nation leader Rod Caddies had publicly defended the party’s vetting, saying its system checked adverse media, court records, banned or disqualified people, emails and telephone screening.
Yet when Pauline Hanson was asked about Herdegen’s public account of heavy cocaine use, she said it was the first she had heard about it and that she would be asking questions.
That leaves One Nation with several unanswered questions:
- Did Herdegen disclose the posts during his application?
- Did the party’s adverse-media and social-media checks locate them?
- Was the driving video examined before his selection?
- Did senior party figures discuss the material with him?
- Why was Pauline Hanson apparently unaware of it while publicly campaigning beside him?
One Nation cannot reasonably boast about an exhaustive vetting process while its federal leader appears surprised by information that had been posted publicly years earlier.
A conflict with the law-and-order campaign?
The issue also intersects awkwardly with One Nation’s campaign messaging.
Caddies has placed crime near the centre of the party’s argument in Secret Harbour, claiming that crime and homelessness have risen while local transport and infrastructure have been neglected. Herdegen is being promoted as a candidate prepared to take a tough approach to crime. Politicians with troubled histories are not necessarily hypocrites for supporting strong laws. Someone who has overcome addiction may possess valuable insight into rehabilitation, mental-health services and the causes of harmful behaviour.
The inconsistency emerges when a party portrays crime largely as a product of dangerous or morally deficient outsiders, but treats similar conduct within its own ranks primarily as evidence of redemption. Compassion, rehabilitation and second chances should not depend on whether the person involved is a One Nation candidate. If Herdegen deserves to be judged on the person he is today rather than the worst period of his life, the same principle should extend to people struggling with addiction, poverty or mental illness throughout the wider community.
What voters should judge
The responsible approach is neither to ignore Herdegen’s history nor to sensationalise it. People can change, recover from destructive behaviour and make a valuable contribution to public life. However, seeking elected office also brings a higher level of scrutiny because politicians are entrusted with making laws, shaping public policy and setting standards for the wider community.
Secret Harbour voters are therefore entitled to ask whether Herdegen has demonstrated genuine change, whether his explanations have been complete and whether his present conduct reflects the judgement and responsibility expected of a member of parliament. They are also entitled to question whether One Nation was transparent about its candidate and whether the party’s proclaimed vetting process was as thorough as it claimed.
This scrutiny is especially important when it comes to road safety. Western Australia continues to face a deeply concerning level of deaths and serious injuries on its roads, with speeding and distracted driving remaining significant risks. In that environment, politicians should not merely avoid breaking the law; they should actively model safe behaviour, take responsibility when concerns are raised and reinforce the seriousness of road safety messages.
The controversy is therefore about more than what Luke Herdegen did approximately a decade ago. It is about what he learned, what he disclosed, how he responds to legitimate public questions and whether One Nation’s promises of accountability are applied inside the party as firmly as they are applied to everyone else. Voters should be able to expect their representatives to lead by example, particularly on issues where careless behaviour can cost lives.
References
Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2026, July 19). Secret Harbour by-election: Meet the candidates vying for your vote.
InDaily and Australian Associated Press. (2026, July 22). One Nation distances from senator’s COVID claim. See the section “Candidate defends drugs past.”
Nine News. (2026, July 21). Gym owner turned One Nation candidate defends filming himself driving and past cocaine use.
ABC News. (2026, July 3). Emergency services warn drivers against complacency as WA road death toll climbs.
Western Australian Road Safety Commission. (2025). Western Australian Road Fatalities and Serious Injuries 2024.
Western Australian Road Safety Commission. (2026). Road Fatalities: Year to Date and Annual Statistics.
