Cost of living and local representation have emerged as key issues for candidates to address as pre-poll voting officially kicked in the Secret Harbour byelection on Monday.

The seat was vacated after the resignation of long-term Labor minister and MP Paul Papalia, who retired from politics last month after a close family member was diagnosed with a serious illness.

The battle for Secret Harbour has developed into a three-horse race, with Labor, One Nation and the Liberals emerging as the main challengers to claim the electorate.

Labor’s candidate Georgia Tree said the main grievance raised during her doorknocking had not changed throughout the campaign.

“The key issues haven’t changed, which is cost of living,” she said.

“People are feeling the pinch, the global inflation crisis that we’ve seen post-COVID is still biting, and that’s why it’s been really important to let people know about the cost of living relief that Roger Cook and his team are already delivering.”

Meanwhile, One Nation’s candidate Luke Herdegen said people in the electorate felt like they were being taken for granted.

“The biggest thing is people are trying to move for change,” he said.

“They’re tired. They’re tired of being taken for granted in the southern suburbs here.

“They don’t get the infrastructure, they don’t get these things and the money spent down here, and they’ve had enough.”

It was a sentiment echoed by the Liberal Party’s Ryan Robertson, who said he believed the people of Secret Harbour have been ignored.

“It’s time that they actually have someone in state parliament that is a voice of the people that live here, and not just the mouthpiece, and that’s what we will bring,” he said.

“The WA Liberals are crystal clear on their focus, and that’s to deliver for the people of Secret Harbour.

“We’ve seen in the last couple of weeks promises, more promises, and then re-announcements of older promises.”

WA Electoral Commissioner Dennis O’Reilly said more than 550 people had already come through the doors at early polling centres in the first few hours of voting.

“I’m not sure if 11 per cent is enough for [Labor] to defend, to be honest. That’s certainly the feeling that I’m getting.”One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen

That’s on top of the 3500 postal votes also already lodged. There are around 36,000 voters in the electorate.

Tree said the key point of difference between her and the other 15 candidates in the byelection was the fact she would have a “seat at the table” if elected.

“To me, the point of difference between me and the 15 other candidates that are on the ballot paper, is that I have the chance to be in the room where decisions are made, and that’s what I can deliver for this community,” she said.

“I think we can all see that I’ve been pretty successful in prodding the government to get what I want.”

Herdegen said he felt the contest was down to two real choices between One Nation and Labor, and believed there was enough support for his party to win back the 11 per cent margin previously held by Papalia.

“We certainly feel like it is a two-horse race,” he said.

“I’m not sure if 11 per cent is enough for them to defend, to be honest. That’s certainly the feeling that I’m getting.

“I believe that the vibe on the ground for us has been really, really positive.

“I think we’ve potentially taken a larger portion of Labor votes than Liberals.”

Robertson said voters were sick and tired of being told what they wanted to hear, and promised to represent constituents if elected.

“So what we’re hearing strongly is, it’s time for change,” he said.

“It’s time to have someone in state parliament that actually starts representing the constituents who elected them into that position, and that’s exactly what we will do if fortunate enough to be given that opportunity in state parliament.”