One Nation has clinched the South Australian lower house seat of Narungga after a tightly contested recount, capping off a broader surge that has significantly expanded the party’s presence in the state parliament.
The result, confirmed on Thursday, gives One Nation candidate Chantelle Thomas victory by just 58 votes over Liberal contender Tania Stock. The Yorke Peninsula electorate was the final seat to be declared nearly two weeks after polling day, underscoring the narrow margin in one of the election’s closest races.
Ms Thomas’s win delivers One Nation a fourth seat in the House of Assembly and contributes to a total of seven representatives across both chambers — a notable increase for a party that has traditionally occupied the political fringes in South Australia.
Despite the gain, the Liberal Party of Australia retains opposition status, having secured five lower house seats overall.
Party leader Pauline Hanson told Sky News the result marked a significant milestone for the party in South Australia, with four lower house seats and three in the Legislative Council confirmed after the election.
She said the outcome would see seven One Nation MPs enter parliament, describing it as a sign that voters were seeking change and suggesting the party had positioned itself as an alternative to the major parties.
In brief remarks after her election was declared, Ms Thomas thanked supporters and electoral staff involved in the recount, describing the result as a reflection of strong local engagement. She has previously said her decision to run was motivated by a desire to provide “clarity, unity and strength” for voters, adding that many people felt unheard in the current political landscape.
Based in Kadina, Ms Thomas is a mother of three who has worked as a photographer, make-up artist and counsellor. Her campaign focused heavily on grassroots outreach across the electorate.
Narungga had been held by former Liberal-turned-independent Fraser Ellis, who re-contested the seat but secured only about 17 per cent of the primary vote, reflecting a fragmented contest.
The result forms part of a wider set of gains for One Nation across regional South Australia. Among those elected to the lower house are David Paton in Ngadjuri, Jason Virgo in MacKillop, and Robert Roylance in Hammond — all seats with strong regional constituencies where cost-of-living pressures, infrastructure, and local industry have featured prominently in campaign debates.
In the upper house, the party has also secured representation, including the election of Carlos Quaremba, alongside additional candidates such as Rebecca Hewett, further strengthening its legislative footprint.
One Nation’s South Australian leader Cory Bernardi characterised the outcome as a significant shift in voter sentiment, pointing to dissatisfaction with major parties and a perceived disconnect with regional communities. He said the party would seek to work across the political spectrum while advancing its policy agenda, including cost-of-living measures and institutional reforms.
At the national level, party leader Pauline Hanson said the results reflected broader voter frustration, arguing that many Australians were seeking alternatives to established political parties and clearer policy direction.
With seven members now in the South Australian Parliament — four in the lower house and three in the Legislative Council — One Nation’s expanded presence positions it as a more influential crossbench force, particularly on issues affecting regional communities and economic policy.
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