One Nation\u2019s South Australia leader Cory Bernardi has won an upper house seat in South Australia\u2019s state election, as the party\u2019s national matriarch Pauline Hanson says she feels \u201cvindicated\u201d by an early surge in votes.<\/p>\n
Addressing a crowd of supporters on Saturday night, Mr Bernardi said he was \u201csmiling because today, an earthquake has rattled the foundations of uni-party politics in South Australia\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I promise you there is more to come,\u201d he said to cheers and applause.<\/p>\n
\u201cFriends, we\u2019re here and quite rightly, we should be very proud of what we achieved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know the ultimate result as yet because (of) the electoral system and the quirks of our voting and preferences will flow through later in the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I can assure you, One Nation will have the strongest voice in the South Australian parliament that it has ever had before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Malinauskas declares victory<\/p>\n
Premier Peter Malinauskas has declared victory as vote counting indicates a Labor landslide of historic proportions.<\/p>\n
Taking to the stage at Labor\u2019s election HQ to chants of \u201cfour more years\u201d, Mr Malinauskas said he was \u201chumbled\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than anything else, tonight, I\u2019m overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude,\u201d he told party faithful.<\/p>\n
\u201cA gratitude to so many people who have provided this government the opportunity to be able to continue to serve. To be able to continue our work of making sure that the momentum in South Australia delivers for the people who deserves it most, and those are the people of South Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liberals have \u2018lessons\u2019<\/p>\n
Conceding the election, Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn told supporters at party headquarters that \u201clessons must be learned\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tough night for the Liberals. There\u2019s absolutely no doubt about it that things are tough and lessons must be learned,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of things that we need to reflect on. But now is not the time for that.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow is the time to celebrate the Liberal cause because and to give hope for the future because there is still hope for the Liberal future here in South Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hanson\u2019s \u2018landmines\u2019<\/p>\n
While Ms Hurn congratulated Mr Malinauskas on his win, Senator Hanson had a warning for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am leaving tomorrow to go to Canberra to continue my duties,\u201d she told a crowd of One Nation volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut guess what, mate. I\u2019m leaving you some landmines. They\u2019re called One Nation members of parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I suggest you don\u2019t step on them because they will explode. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re here for \u2013 to ensure you get good representation, good government with a good opposition, which you have not had in this state for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pauline Hanson \u2018vindicated\u2019<\/p>\n
Early results about 8pm local time saw the populist party\u2019s primary vote spike to 24 per cent, well ahead of the Liberal Party.<\/p>\n
Though Labor will comfortably return to power. <\/p>\n
Speaking with Sky News from One Nation\u2019s official election night function, Senator Hanson shared her growing optimism at claiming seats in the upper and lower house for the party. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think in a lot of ways, I feel vindicated for my being in this game for 30 years, that I\u2019ve been fighting for this \u2013 to give people back their voice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I just feel, I just feel different. I\u2019m excited but \u2026 I\u2019ve been in this position before and then it all just falls apart with preferences and the rest of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel in so many ways, to see the potential, the hope that we\u2019re getting at the moment, that it\u2019s not just a dream, that this is happening\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Hanson said her decades of effort had been noted by overjoyed supporters on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re so excited, and they can see the change. And I\u2019ve been getting hugs and kisses and people thanking me for hanging around, not giving up, but this is the start of it,\u201d she declared.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m going to go after Farrer, and we\u2019re going to look at the Victorian state elections. \u201cPeople are crying out for One Nation down there. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s a movement that\u2019s happening, but it\u2019s not about Pauline Hanson, it\u2019s about the people themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labor returned to government<\/p>\n