Charlotte Walker (politician)
Charlotte Walker | |
|---|---|
Walker in 2025 | |
| Senator for South Australia | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2025 | |
| Preceded by | David Fawcett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 May 2004 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Party | Labor |
Charlotte Walker (born 3 May 2004) is an Australian politician who was elected as a Senator for South Australia at the 2025 federal election, representing the Australian Labor Party. As of 2025, she is the youngest senator in Australian history, and the youngest current member of the Australian Parliament, having turned 21 on the day of the election. Her six-year term began on 1 July 2025.
Personal life and education
Charlotte Walker was born on 3 May 2004 and grew up in Yankalilla, South Australia.[1][2]
She attended Investigator College in Victor Harbor.[3]
Career
After finishing high school, Walker was recruited by House of Assembly speaker Leon Bignell to work part time in his local electorate office.[3] She lives in Adelaide.[3]
Walker, the president of Young Labor in South Australia, was working for the Australian Services Union prior to the election.[3][4] She was preselected for the usually unwinnable third spot on Labor's SA Senate ticket, but was elected due to a large swing towards the party.[2] She is affiliated with the Labor Left faction.[2]
In the lead up to the election, Walker had posted videos on Instagram "talking up Labor policy while applying makeup, streaming the video game Minecraft and interviewing other young Labor members on the street".[5] She focused on issues such access to education, reducing students' HECS debts, and the cost of living. She also campaigned alongside other South Australian Labor candidates, including Louise Miller-Frost, Penny Wong, and Marielle Smith.[1]
Walker won a seat in the Senate, making her the youngest senator in Australian history, having turned 21 on the day of the election.[3][6] The previous youngest Senator was Jordon Steele-John from the Greens in Western Australia, who was elected in 2017 at the age of 23.[1]
She gave her maiden speech on 26 August 2025, in which she spoke about her own personal experience of bullying and depression, leading to her interest in addressing mental health of young people as a nation. She also spoke about the algal bloom affecting South Australia, her wish to bring more discussion about domestic violence into the parliament,[7] and about the housing crisis in Australia, that has particularly affected young people.[8]
Personal life
Walker has suffered from depression and has had suicidal ideation, for which she received psychotherapy.[8]
Walker stated in December 2025 that she was caught in a catfishing attempt when a student at her school solicited nude photos. She cites this as a reason for supporting the social media ban for under 16 year olds.[9]
References
- ^ a b c "Meet Charlotte Walker, the youngest senator in Australia's history". SBS News. 27 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Kelsall, Thomas (4 May 2025). "Labor candidate who turned 21 on election night likely to become senator". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Willis, Belinda (4 May 2025). "Promise of a senate seat for Labor's Charlotte Walker on her 21st birthday". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 4 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Gilchrist, Charlie (5 April 2025). "Labor reveals anticipated SA candidates for federal election". InDaily. Archived from the original on 4 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Simmons, David; Karakulak, Helen (1 May 2025). "Influenced: How politics intersected with social media in the final campaign week". InDaily. Archived from the original on 4 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ "South Australia Senators decided". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 May 2025.
- ^ "Australia's youngest senator Charlotte Walker delivers candid 'first speech'". ABC News. 26 August 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ a b Australia’s youngest senator, Charlotte Walker, gives first speech to parliament. Guardian Australia. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Manfield, Evelyn (6 December 2025). "Senator who backs social media ban says she was a victim of a catfishing attempt in high school". ABC News. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2025.