Announcement of the names and boundaries of federal Electoral Divisions in South Australia

Announced on   Monday 20 July 2026

Augmented Electoral Commission’s redistribution of federal Electoral Divisions in South Australia

The augmented Electoral Commission for South Australia has concluded its consideration of the federal redistribution of Electoral Divisions in South Australia. The outcomes of the redistribution outlined below do not take effect until the next federal election after 8 October 2026. The reasons for the augmented Electoral Commission’s determination of the redistribution will be detailed in its report, due to be published in late 2026.

The augmented Electoral Commission was required to consider all the submissions made to it in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act) concerning the proposed redistribution for South Australia.

The augmented Electoral Commission was also required by the Electoral Act to meet the numerical requirements of section 73(4). That is:

  • the number of electors in each Electoral Division shall, as far as practicable, not deviate from the projected enrolment quota of 136,333 at the projection time of 8 April 2030 by more than plus or minus 3.5 per cent. As far as practicable, the number of electors enrolled in each Electoral Division in South Australia at the projection time must therefore be between 141,104 and 131,562 and,
  • the number of electors in each Electoral Division shall not deviate from the redistribution quota of 130,786 by more than plus or minus 10 per cent. The number of electors enrolled in each Electoral Division in South Australia must therefore be between 143,864 and 117,708.

Further, in relation to each Electoral Division, the augmented Electoral Commission was also required to give due consideration to:

  • community of interests in the Electoral Division, including economic, social and regional interests
  • means of communication and travel in the Electoral Division
  • the physical features and area of the Electoral Division
  • the boundaries of existing Electoral Divisions (with this factor being subordinate to the others).

Summary of proposed boundaries

The redistribution will result in boundary changes to five of South Australia’s ten Electoral Divisions (referred to as 'electorates') below:

  • Barker gains part of Alexandrina Council and the suburbs of Callington and Kanmantoo from Mayo
  • Boothby gains the remainder of the City of Mitcham from Mayo
  • Makin gains part of the City of Salisbury south of the Little Para River from Spence

The augmented Electoral Commission’s redistribution outlined above makes two adjustments to the boundaries proposed in the Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution, released in March 2026, in response to the public’s submissions on the proposal:

  • The proposed transfers between the electorates of Kingston and Mayo will not be adopted. The suburbs of Aberfoyle Park, Happy Valley and part of Chandlers Hill will be retained in the electorate of Kingston, and the suburbs of Aldinga, Aldinga Beach, Port Willunga and Sellicks Beach will be retained in the electorate of Mayo.
  • The proposed transfer between the electorates of Grey and Spence will not be adopted. The suburbs of Buckland Park, Riverlea Park, Virginia, Waterloo Corner and part of Port Gawler will be retained in the electorate of Spence.

All other boundary changes proposed by the Redistribution Committee are to be adopted.

The augmented Electoral Commission’s redistribution will result in a change of electorate for 1.81 per cent (23,683) of electors in South Australia. This redistribution meets the numerical requirements of the redistribution and projected enrolment quotas for South Australia.

The below table summarises key data for each electorate:

Electorate

Enrolment as at 12 August 2025

Projected enrolment at 8 April 2030

Approximate area

Number

Percentage variation from the redistribution quota

Number

Percentage variation from the projected enrolment quota

Adelaide

130,638

-0.11%

135,319

-0.74%

86 km2

Barker

131,400

0.47%

134,792

-1.13%

66,083 km2

Boothby

135,142

3.33%

140,190

2.83%

128 km2

Grey

129,724

-0.81%

132,595

-2.74%

908,608 km2

Hindmarsh

130,799

0.01%

137,208

0.64%

122 km2

Kingston

128,141

-2.02%

133,610

-2.00%

166 km2

Makin

137,273

4.96%

139,308

2.18%

176 km2

Mayo

129,524

-0.96%

136,991

0.48%

8,243 km2

Spence

125,349

-4.16%

139,334

2.20%

521 km2

Sturt

129,873

-0.70%

133,986

-1.72%

98 km2

Augmented Electoral Commission’s conclusions on submissions relating to the boundaries of electorates

The augmented Electoral Commission received and considered 292 submissions that addressed the Redistribution Committee’s proposed boundaries of South Australia’s electorates. The below outlines the augmented Electoral Commission’s conclusions on the key focus areas presented in submissions.

Redistribution Committee’s proposal:
The Redistribution Committee proposed transferring 18 suburbs from parts of the Mount Barker and Alexandrina local government areas from the electorate of Mayo to the electorate of Barker. The suburbs that were proposed to change were:

  • Angas Plains
  • Highland Valley
  • Point Sturt
  • Belvidere
  • Kanmantoo
  • Red Creek
  • Bletchley
  • Lake Plains
  • Salem
  • Callington
  • Langhorne Creek
  • St Ives
  • Clayton Bay
  • Milang
  • Tolderol
  • Hartley
  • Petwood
  • Woodchester

Summary of public submissions on the proposed redistribution:
A total of 10 submissions addressed the proposed boundary change surrounding the suburbs of Callington and Kanmantoo. The majority of the submissions supported unifying Callington into a single electorate and maintaining the established community connections with Kanmantoo.

Submissions were also received in support of the suburbs surrounding the western shoreline of Lake Alexandrina being transferred to the electorate of Barker.

Outcome:
The augmented Electoral Commission considered the submissions received and agreed that the Redistribution Committee’s proposal of uniting Callington and transferring Kanmantoo into the electorate of Barker would align communities of interests and be beneficial in providing clarity for electors. The augmented Electoral Commission concurred that transferring parts of the Alexandrina local government area to Barker united communities of interests within a single electorate. Accordingly, it agreed to adopt the boundaries between the electorates of Barker and Mayo as proposed by the Redistribution Committee.

Redistribution Committee’s proposal:
The Redistribution Committee proposed to transfer the remaining part of the City of Mitcham from the electorate of Mayo to Boothby, uniting it within a single electorate.

Summary of public submissions on the proposed redistribution:
Four submissions supported the proposal to unite the City of Mitcham into a single federal electorate, using the Sturt River as a natural and identifiable electoral boundary.

Outcome:
The augmented Electoral Commission noted the community of interests benefits of the proposal to unite the City of Mitcham into a single electorate and agreed to adopt the Redistribution Committee’s proposed boundaries between the electorates of Boothby and Mayo.

Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution:
The Redistribution Committee proposed transferring the suburbs of Aldinga, Aldinga Beach, Port Willunga and Sellicks Beach from the electorate of Mayo to Kingston. To meet the required numerical parameters, it also proposed transferring the suburbs of Aberfoyle Park, Chandlers Hill and part of Happy Valley from the electorate of Kingston to Mayo.

Summary of public submissions on the proposed redistribution:
18 submissions discussed the areas proposed for change between the electorates of Kingston and Mayo, generally disagreeing with the northern area (Aberfoyle Park, Chandlers Hill and Happy Valley) being transferred due to differing communities of interests and demographics.

Outcome:
The augmented Electoral Commission was not persuaded that sufficient benefits of co-locating the Aldinga area with other beachside suburbs yet existed and noted that this change would require some changes to the area further north separating Aberfoyle Park from Kingston. Both changes needed to occur to meet the quota requirements of the Electoral Act. The augmented Electoral Commission also had regard to submissions that the respective communities in both areas have strong ties and communities of interests within their existing electorate. The augmented Electoral Commission found these submissions persuasive. Bearing these considerations in mind, it decided not to adopt the Redistribution Committee’s proposal. The augmented Electoral Commission also noted that it was not numerically necessary for the electorate of Kingston to change. As a result, the boundaries of the electorate of Kingston will remain unchanged.

Redistribution Committee’s proposal:
The Redistribution Committee proposed that the electorate of Makin gain the part of the City of Salisbury local government area south of the Little Para River from the electorate of Spence.

Summary of public submissions on the proposed redistribution:
A small number of submissions were received which supported the proposed boundary change between the electorates of Makin and Spence.

Outcome:
The augmented Electoral Commission noted the Little Para River is a natural feature, which provides a clear, identifiable boundary used elsewhere between the two electorates. At the same time, its extended use brings both electorates within the numerical requirements of the Electoral Act. The augmented Electoral Commission agreed to adopt the boundaries between the electorates of Makin and Spence as proposed by the Redistribution Committee.

Redistribution Committee’s proposal:
The Redistribution Committee proposed transferring the suburbs of Buckland Park, Riverlea Park, Virginia and part of Waterloo Corner from the electorate of Spence to Grey.

Summary of public submissions on the proposed redistribution:
Most submissions (around 222) received in response to the proposal addressed the proposed change to the boundaries of Grey and Spence, generally disagreeing with the proposal and citing community of interests concerns around the transfer of urban or peri-urban areas into a regional electorate.

Outcome:
The augmented Electoral Commission acknowledged the concerns raised in submissions, particularly those regarding the inclusion of urban and peri-urban areas into what had until now been a predominantly rural electorate, and the potential detrimental effect on Parliamentary representation occasioned by the addition of significantly different communities of interests to an already huge, and for this reason challenging, electorate. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that the electorate of Grey was not required to change to meet statutory numerical requirements and, having regard to these submissions, concluded that the electorate’s existing boundaries should be retained. As a result, the boundaries of the electorate of Grey will remain unchanged.

Augmented Electoral Commission’s conclusions on name submissions

The augmented Electoral Commission received and considered over 300 submissions addressing the names of federal electorates in South Australia. Most were directed to the proposal to rename the electorate of Grey as O’Donoghue.

Some 15 other names were also put forward. The augmented Electoral Commission considered that there was insufficient substance and weight in these submissions to justify applying any of these 15 names to one of South Australia’s federal electorates at this time, although it considered that some of these names may be worthy of consideration at future redistributions.   

Renaming the electorate of Grey to O’Donoghue

Redistribution Committee’s proposal:
The Redistribution Committee proposed to rename the electorate of Grey in honour of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG (1932–2024), a Yankunytjatjara woman who was the first Indigenous nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and became a distinguished public administrator, champion for health equity, and Indigenous rights activist. The electorate of Grey was chosen on account of Dr O’Donoghue’s strong connection to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, which are largely located in the electorate of Grey. Further information about Dr O’Donoghue can be found on the Australian Dictionary of Biography website.

Summary of public submissions on the proposed redistribution:
A total of 310 submissions addressed renaming the electorate of Grey. 75 supported the proposal; 235 supported the retention of the name of Grey; and four proposed alternative names.

Outcome:
The augmented Electoral Commission acknowledged that the electorate had carried Sir George Grey’s name since 1903, as well as his contribution to South Australia. It noted, however, that he had spent a comparatively small part of his life in Australia. While influential in that short period, he had been honoured for many years for the part he had played in South Australia’s colonial history. The augmented Electoral Commission considered that the time had come to recognise the outstanding contribution to Australia and its people made by a distinguished Australian.

The augmented Electoral Commission considered the arguments contained in support of the proposal to rename the electorate O’Donoghue were well detailed, informative, convincing and ultimately persuasive.  This contrasted with most of the submissions objecting to the renaming of the electorate. Amongst other things, the arguments for renaming the electorate O’Donoghue noted Dr O’Donoghue’s significant contribution to communities, including within the electoral boundaries of Grey, the State of South Australia, and Australia as a whole. They provided strong and convincing reasons to rename the electorate in her honour.

Accordingly, the augmented Electoral Commission agreed to adopt the name ‘O’Donoghue’ in accordance with the Redistribution Committee's proposal, with the name ‘Grey’ to be retired.

Next steps

The augmented Electoral Commission did not consider the outcome of its announced redistribution to be significantly different from the proposal made by the Redistribution Committee. Accordingly, it held that no further public submissions would be sought. South Australia’s new boundaries and the replacement of the Electoral Division name ‘Grey’ with that of O’Donoghue will be formally determined on Thursday 8 October 2026, when a notice of determination is published in the Commonwealth Government Notices Gazette. While Members of the House of Representatives will continue to represent their current electorate, any federal election for which a writ is issued after 8 October 2026 will be conducted using the new boundaries and new name.

Maps will be available on the AEC website on 8 October 2026. The AEC will publish the augmented Electoral Commission's report containing the reasons for its determination after that report is tabled in the Australian Parliament.

Updated: 20 July 2026