Unexpected Senate outcomes will see Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party double its representation in the next parliament.
Labor appeared likely to secure a third Senate seat in both New South Wales and Western Australia but ultimately fell short, with One Nation claiming the final seat in each state.
This result returns One Nation to the level of Senate representation it last achieved following the 2016 double dissolution election.
Despite these gains, Labor’s overall Senate success in other states means the government will only need support from the Greens to pass legislation, provided it does not secure backing from the Coalition.
With four senators, One Nation now matches the Nationals in upper house representation.
Labor’s Senate presence has grown, bringing its total to 28 seats—one more than the Coalition—while the Greens have retained their 11 seats.
The Senate crossbench will now include four One Nation senators, as well as David Pocock (ACT), Jacqui Lambie and Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania), Lidia Thorpe (Victoria), and Ralph Babet and Fatima Payman (Western Australia).
A minimum of 39 votes is needed for legislation to pass in the Senate, giving Labor and the Greens a narrow path to success. Should either lose a senator or face opposition from the Coalition, they would require support from the crossbench.
One Nation’s expanded team now includes Warwick Stacey, who secured the final NSW seat, and Tyron Whitten, who claimed the final seat in WA. Both victories came after Labor led in earlier vote counts and appeared poised to gain up to 30 seats.
Previously, One Nation’s Senate numbers dropped due to internal conflicts and the citizenship crisis, leaving only Senator Hanson as a consistent presence.
Speaking to Sky News, Senator Hanson said the party would use its increased presence to campaign against international climate commitments, calling climate change a “scam” and pledging to hold the government accountable while promoting the party’s platform.
