SA federal redistribution: Proposed boundaries released

The Redistribution Committee for South Australia published its report today proposing new boundaries for the state’s ten federal electorates.

Reminder: This federal redistribution relates to federal electorates only. It is entirely separate to the South Australian state election – including being conducted by a different body.

Committee Chair and Australian Electoral Commissioner, Jeff Pope, said that four out of South Australia’s ten federal electorates are projected to fall outside the numerical requirements by 2030.

“Redrawing the boundaries needs to ensure that all of South Australia’s federal electorates remain as equal as possible not just now but heading into the future as well”, Mr Pope said.

“Under the proposal, around four per cent of South Australian voters would change federal electorate.”

 

“The biggest changes affect the federal electorates of Mayo and Spence, which both need to reduce in size due to continued population growth in some regional hubs and the urban fringe of Adelaide.  

“Mayo, in particular, is proposed to reduce geographically but would still be a relatively large electorate that runs from the Adelaide Hills down to – and including – Kangaroo Island.”

“The proposal also suggests renaming the electorate of Grey to O’Donoghue, in honour of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue – a Yankunytjatjara woman who was the first Indigenous nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and championed health equity and Indigenous rights”.

Proposed new boundaries

• The electorate of Barker is proposed to gain the eastern half of the Alexandrina council and the localities of Callington and Kanmantoo from the electorate of Mayo.
• The electorate of Boothby holds the entirety of the City of Mitcham council, moving parts of the local government area out of the electorate of Mayo.
• The electorate of Kingston is proposed to gain the localities of Aldinga, Aldinga Beach, Port Willunga and Sellicks Beach from the electorate of Mayo.
• The electorate of Makin is proposed to gain part of the City of Salisbury council, south of the Little Para River from the electorate of Spence.
• The electorate of Mayo is proposed to gain the localities of Aberfoyle Park, Chandlers Hill and part of Happy Valley from the electorate of Kingston and loses the areas that would go to the electorates of Barker, Boothby and Kingston.
• The proposed electorate of O’Donoghue gains part of the Playford council from the electorate of Spence.

“All proposed changes are driven by the need to accommodate the differing rates of expected growth and decline across the state and obtain electorates that are more balanced numerically”.

“The Committee considers the proposed redistribution will result in electorates that improve current communities of interest and use strong and readily identifiable features as electorate boundaries”.

Members of the public are now encouraged to submit their ideas on the proposed boundaries and the renaming of the electorate of Grey.

Editor’s notes:

• The proposal: Full details and maps
• Criteria for naming electorates
• Submitting ideas on the proposal (by 24 April)
• Members of the House of Representatives elected at the 2025 federal election, and in federal by-elections since that time, will continue to represent their respective electorates until the next federal election.
• Overview map: See below