ARC put $20,000 into a WA by-election — a real test
of what organised shooters can achieve at the ballot box
Why ARC backed the campaign
Australian shooting organisations have long argued that licensed shooters need greater political influence. ARC has now provided a concrete example of what direct political engagement can look like.
In the Secret Harbour by-election in Western Australia, ARC contributed $20,000 to support a campaign. The official WA Electoral Commission result later showed Luke Herdegen elected with 57.19% of the final two-candidate-preferred vote.
What the result does — and does not — prove
The result is politically significant, but it needs to be interpreted carefully. A contribution can support campaign activity; it does not by itself establish that the money caused the electoral result. Voter behaviour, candidate quality, local issues, party support, turnout and preferences all matter.
What ARC says comes next
In this episode of Gun News Australia, Steve Harrison explains why ARC became involved, what the organisation believed it could achieve, and how it intends to approach future political activity.
The bigger question for shooters
The broader issue for licensed shooters is whether shooting organisations should devote more resources to direct political engagement — and, if they do, how success should be measured. Accountability requires more than claiming a win after the event. It requires clear objectives, transparent spending and evidence that the strategy is producing something useful for shooters.
That makes Secret Harbour worth examining not as a party-political victory lap, but as a test case for a different model of advocacy.
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