Australia Elects Its Youngest Ever Senator

Initially placed third on Labor’s ticket, Charlotte Walker defied the odds to become SA’s youngest federal senator.

Voters receive there ballots from Australian Electoral Commission volunteers at a pre-polling centre inside the Brisbane City Hall in Brisbane on May 2, 2025. PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images

A major swing towards Labor in South Australia has propelled 21-year-old Charlotte Walker into the national spotlight.

Initially preselected for the traditionally unwinnable third position on Labor’s Senate ticket, Walker has defied expectations and is now set to become the youngest federal senator from her state.

Her election follows the official declaration of results by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on May 27, placing her sixth among the successful Senate candidates for South Australia.

Walker, who celebrated her 21st birthday on election night, is preparing for a significant life transition as she moves to Canberra to begin her duties from July 1.

She will undergo formal orientation through “Senate School” to prepare for the responsibilities of parliamentary life.

“I think it will be a big adjustment, it is a significant amount of time in Canberra,” she told ABC News.

“It’s a balance—you’re there to serve people, and you don’t sign up for it if you’re not OK with a really busy schedule.”

From Normanville to the Nation’s Capital

Raised in Normanville on the Fleurieu Peninsula, Walker attended Yankalilla Area School and later Investigator College in Victor Harbor.

After graduating in 2022, she enrolled at the University of Adelaide and later took on a member engagement role with the Australian Services Union (ASU).

That role will now come to an end as she steps into federal politics.

Walker is aligned with Labor’s left faction and credits her political rise to strong mentorship and support within the party. She says Senators Karen Grogan and Penny Wong have played guiding roles.

Senator Wong described Walker as “an intelligent and principled woman who would add to the diversity of the Senate.”

The AEC confirmed the results of the South Australian Senate race following the automated distribution of preferences.

The successful candidates are Marielle Smith (Labor), Alex Antic (Liberal), Karen Grogan (Labor), Anne Ruston (Liberal), Sarah Hanson-Young (Greens), and Charlotte Walker (Labor).

“As with all aspects of the count, scrutineers appointed by the candidates were able to witness the automated distribution of preferences undertaken today,” said Cameron Stokes, the Australian Electoral Officer for South Australia.