Gym owner turned One Nation candidate defends speeding and cocaine use

One Nation’s candidate in Western Australia has faced scrutiny over social media posts, in which he filmed himself driving and spoke about his past cocaine use, as Pauline Hanson jumped to his defence.

Luke Herdegen was chosen out of 88 candidates to fight Labor and the Liberals for the outer Perth seat of Secret Harbour following Police Minister Paul Papalia’s resignation earlier in July to care for a sick family member.

Herdegen, the 39-year-old owner of five Anytime Fitness gyms, has found his social media posts under the spotlight.

At a press conference alongside Hanson on Tuesday, Herdegen was asked about a 2019 social media post in which he admitted to heavy cocaine use.

“That’s a story I put out there to help inspire people to live happier and healthier lives, and I think it really did help a lot of people,” he said.

“When I’m in the streets of Secret Harbour, they’re not asking me about a blog post from 10 years ago.”

Hanson said she did not know about his past drug use and had only briefly met her candidate on Monday following her controversial two-week trip to Europe.

Herdegen also knocked back suggestions that he was speeding in a since-deleted video of him driving.

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“I don’t think I did feel myself speeding, but the public will get to make their decision and that’s up to the people,” he said.

Hanson interrupted and asked whether he had been pulled over or received a speeding ticket.

“I have before been pulled over for a speeding ticket,” he replied.

“No, this video clip,” Hanson said.

“No,” he said.

“Oh OK. So, no problem,” Hanson said.

Herdegen said some of his social media posts had been deleted to protect his family from the media.

One Nation’s state leader Rod Caddies announced Herdegen’s candidacy on Monday, pointing to his experience, honesty and genuine connection to the community.

“We’ve all seen the neglect that career uniparty politicians have delivered. Now it’s time for a real outsider to disrupt the status quo and sink Labor in Secret Harbour,” he said.

The Secret Harbour byelection on August 29 will be closely watched as One Nation tests its popularity in Western Australia.

The traditionally safe Labor seat could be lost to One Nation if the minor party can replicate its success at the South Australian state election and the byelection for the federal seat of Farrer earlier this year.

Premier Roger Cook described it as the “fight for our lives”.

Hanson on Tuesday said: “This will be a test case, the same as when we won seven seats in the South Australian parliament.”

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The WA Liberals, whose vote has collapsed to a historic low, want to work with One Nation and need to strike a preference deal to gain enough numbers to steal the seat.

Hanson also flagged that she was willing to work with the Liberals but said no official deal had been struck.

“But we will be putting Labor last and the Greens second last,” she said.

Federal Liberal leader Angus Taylor on Tuesday knocked down a rogue senator’s reported attempt to merge the Liberals with One Nation in South Australia.