Australia has just welcomed its youngest senator ever, with 21-year-old Charlotte Walker snaring South Australia’s sixth upper house seat — and Labor’s third Senate seat — after weeks of vote counting. We love to see it!!
In a fun lil’ twist of fate, the young Labor candidate was actually blowing out her 21st birthday cake candles ON election night earlier this month. Talk about a milestone celebration.
With the win, Walker’s officially the youngest Aussie to join the Senate, while former Queensland MP Wyatt Roy — who was 20 when he was elected to the House of Representatives back in 2010 — holds the title of youngest person elected in parliament overall.
So, who is this South Australian diva all set to begin her six-year term in Parliament? We’ve got the deets.
Who is Labor’s Charlotte Walker?
Walker was born on May 3, 2004 (go, Taurus energy!) and grew up in the country town of Yankalilla, around 72 km south of the state’s capital of Adelaide.
She joined the Labor Party when she was just 18. Since then, she’s grown to the role of SA Young Labor president, and was a staffer at the Australian Services Union when she was preselected in the usually unwinnable third spot on Labor’s South Australian ticket.
Speaking to ABC News, she said she’s hoping this Senate win can inspire other young people, especially women, to forge a similar path into politics.
“I want to do a good job for South Australians, but I also want to show young people, particularly young women that this is achievable and this is something that they can do also,” Walker said.
“I’m also really excited, not many people my age get to go to Canberra and have the ability to contribute in the way that I will, so I am also really excited to get into it.
“There is a lot to learn, but I’m feeling good.”
In the lead-up to the election, Walker’s campaign focused on issues such as HECS debt reduction and cost of living. Plus, it featured some pretty fun Minecraft videos as she broke down Labor’s policy platform.
“I know what it’s like to have to balance work, study and paying rent, that’s why it’s important we have more young voices in parliament, people who actually understand what it’s like,” Walker said in a campaign video.
“I put my hand up because I want to be part of the change, and I believe we can keep moving in the right direction.”
It’s something she plans to continue championing while in Canberra, telling ABC News: “I do think the Albanese government has done a good job at presenting policies that appeal to young people, but I think having a young person actually there in caucus meetings and in parliament … is going to bring a different perspective.
“None of the sitting members know what it’s like to be 21 right now, but I do because I am living through that.”
When “Senate school” kicks off in July, Walker will begin her six-year term with a roughly $200,000 salary — and a major platform to amplify the voices of young Australians.
Oh, and fun fact for your next trivia Tuesday? She’s the first parliamentarian to be born in this millennium.
A wave of support for Charlotte Walker’s win
Walker said her family has been behind her political drive from the start, and she’s spoken warmly about their role in her journey, especially her mum.
“I think she’s really excited. We come from a regional town down in Normanville and I don’t think we’ve ever had anyone from down that way before in Federal Parliament. I hope she’s proud,” Walker told ABC News.
Meanwhile, Labor veterans and political figures have also celebrated her win. SA senator and Minister for Trade Don Farrell described her as “very young” and “very lucky” as he welcomed her into the fold.
“She will come in as a very new and young member of the Senate,” he told ABC News earlier this month.
“But we’ve got plenty of people up there in Canberra who will give her all of the advice she needs so that she’ll make a very valuable contribution to the Australian political process.”
Fellow SA senator and Foreign Minister Penny Wong added that Australia’s parliament was “best when it represents all of Australia, including our young people”.
“Charlotte is an intelligent and principled woman who would add to the diversity of the Senate,” she said.
Taking to Facebook, Boothby MP Louise Miller-Frost was among Walker’s well-wishers, promising to see her soon in Canberra.
“Charlotte will be such an asset to the South Australian Labor team, our federal caucus, and a strong voice for youth around the country,” she wrote.
Former Australian Democrats senator Natasha Stott Despoja — who was the youngest person elected to parliament at the time back in 1995 — also took to social media to congratulate Walker.
“Herstory-making! I wish her every success. SA is making a nice habit of this,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Now Walker may be starting her career in politics at just 21, but she’s making it pretty clear being young can also mean speaking out and rewriting the rules. Go off, queen!!
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