Latest news with #youngsenator
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Australia elects its youngest senator EVER who will pick up a huge salary - but many can't help but ask the same question
A woman who turned 21 on the day of Australia's federal election in May has been declared the nation's youngest ever senator. Charlotte Walker, a former union official, won Labor's third Senate seat for South Australia - an unexpected result in the preferential voting system, where third-ranked candidates rarely succeed. She had the lowest vote count of the six newly elected senators for the state. The Australian Electoral Commission officially declared the poll Tuesday. The new job will be a 'big adjustment,' said Walker, who starts her six-year term July 1. A federal lawmaker's base salary is more than $205,000 annually. 'There's a few feelings. Obviously, there's a lot of pressure,' Walker told Australian Broadcasting Corp. after the results were announced late Monday. '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. 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,' she added. However, her historic win hasn't been welcomed by everyone. Some Australians have voiced concern, arguing that at just 21, Walker lacks the life experience needed for such a major role in parliament. 'Nothing personal, but sorry, at 21, few people have the wisdom, maturity, life experience, understanding of fundamental issues of the society, knowledge of the nation's and world's history to make a sound decision,' one said. 'I'm all for 21 year olds having a go, but she's never worked in the private sector, never managed a small business and probably never had a mortgage,' a second added. 'Good on her and she certainly seems a go getter. I'd love to see her apply these skills to a real career. 'Instead, she becomes yet another professional politician with no life or business experience making decisions about the future of the country - this is what is wrong with Australian politics,' a third said. Others suggested she was a refreshing change. 'Don't succumb to old "experienced" colleagues and office politics - you are representing people,' one said. 'Good on her - maybe she can now represent the generation in her cohort which has been missing in Parliament,' a second added. 'Gotta start somewhere. So long as she doesn't think she knows everything remains teachable and works hard,' a third said. Before Walker, the youngest senator was Jordon Steele-John of the Greens party, who was elected for Western Australia state in 2017 at the age of 23. Australia's youngest-ever federal lawmaker was Wyatt Roy, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 at the age of 20. He lasted two three-year terms before he was voted out of his Queensland state seat.
Asharq Al-Awsat
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Australia's New Youngest Senator Elected at 21 with Unexpected Win
A woman who turned 21 on the day of Australia's federal election in May has been declared the nation's youngest ever senator. And like many female candidates who run for election in Australia, Charlotte Walker wasn't expected to win. The former union official won the governing center-left Labor Party's third Senate seat for South Australia state in a complicated rank order voting system. A party's third choice rarely wins. She had the lowest vote count of the six newly elected senators for the state. The Australian Electoral Commission officially declared the poll Tuesday. The new job will be a "big adjustment," said Walker, who starts her six-year term July 1. A federal lawmaker's base salary is more than 205,000 Australian dollars ($133,000) annually. "There's a few feelings. Obviously, there's a lot of pressure," Walker told Australian Broadcasting Corp. after the results were announced late Monday. "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. 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," she added. Before Walker, the youngest senator was Jordon Steele-John of the Greens party, who was elected for Western Australia state in 2017 at the age of 23. Australia's youngest-ever federal lawmaker was Wyatt Roy, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 at the age of 20. He lasted two three-year terms before he was voted out of his Queensland state seat. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expects 57% of Labor lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives will be women when the new Parliament first sits on July 22. The proportion of women was 52% during Albanese's first term in government. Australian governments usually lose seats in their second term. Albanese leads the first federal government not to lose a single seat at an election since 1966. Labor is expected to hold 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, up from 78 in the last Parliament. Australian National University political historian Frank Bongiorno said unexpected swings can put women candidates into Parliament after seeking apparently unwinnable seats. But Bongiorno said Labor had been working on increasing women's representation since the party introduced a quota in 1994 that stated 35% of candidates in winnable seats had to be female. "The fact that we now have not 50%, but 57% is partly a function of obviously just the size of the swing, but it is also, I think, very deliberate changes that have occurred within the Labor Party over about 30 years from what was a very male-dominated culture and environment," Bongiorno said. The odds had been stacked against Walker being elected as her party's third choice in South Australia, Bongiorno said.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Australia elects youngest ever senator as 21-year-old Charlotte Walker takes office in surprise result
Australia has elected its youngest ever senator as 21-year-old Charlotte Walker secured an unexpected victory in one of the country 's southern states. Ms Walker turned 21 on the day of Australia's federal election last May and, like many female candidates who run for election in Australia, wasn't expected to win. A former union official, Ms Walker secured the third Senate seat for the governing center-left Labor Party in South Australia. This was an unexpected victory as, due to the Australia's preferential voting system, a party's third candidate rarely succeeds. Despite receiving the lowest vote count among the six newly elected senators for South Australia, Ms Walker's victory was officially declared by the Australian Electoral Commission on Tuesday. The newly elected senator, whose six-year term commences on July 1, acknowledged the significant shift her new role represents. A federal lawmaker's base salary is more than 205,000 Australian dollars ($133,000) annually. "There's a few feelings. Obviously, there's a lot of pressure," Ms Walker told Australian Broadcasting Corp. after the results were announced late Monday. "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. 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," she added. Previous young lawmakers Before Ms Walker, the youngest senator was Jordon Steele-John of the Greens party, who was elected for Western Australia state in 2017 at the age of 23. Australia's youngest-ever federal lawmaker was Wyatt Roy, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 at the age of 20. He lasted two three-year terms before he was voted out of his Queensland state seat. Large swings at elections as occurred May 3 typically bring a larger proportion of women into the Parliament in seats that their parties hadn't realistically expected to win. Often the newcomers lose their seats when votes swing back at the next election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expects 57 per cent of Labor lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives will be women when the new Parliament first sits on July 22. The proportion of women was 52 per cent during Albanese's first term in government. Australian governments usually lose seats in their second term. Albanese leads the first federal government not to lose a single seat at an election since 1966. Labor is expected to hold 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, up from 78 in the last Parliament. Australian National University political historian Frank Bongiorno said unexpected swings can put women candidates into Parliament after seeking apparently unwinnable seats . But Bongiorno said Labor had been working on increasing women's representation since the party introduced a quota in 1994 that stated 35 per cent of candidates in winnable seats had to be female. "The fact that we now have not 50 per cent, but 57 per cent is partly a function of obviously just the size of the swing, but it is also, I think, very deliberate changes that have occurred within the Labor Party over about 30 years from what was a very male-dominated culture and environment," Bongiorno said. The odds had been stacked against Ms Walker being elected as her party's third choice in South Australia, Bongiorno said.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Australia's new youngest senator elected at 21 with unexpected win
A woman who turned 21 on the day of Australia's federal election in May has been declared the nation's youngest ever senator. And like many female candidates who run for election in Australia, Charlotte Walker wasn't expected to win. The former union official won the governing center-left Labor Party's third Senate seat for South Australia state in a complicated rank order voting system. A party's third choice rarely wins. She had the lowest vote count of the six newly elected senators for the state. The Australian Electoral Commission officially declared the poll Tuesday. The new job will be a 'big adjustment," said Walker, who starts her six-year term July 1. A federal lawmaker's base salary is more than 205,000 Australian dollars ($133,000) annually. 'There's a few feelings. Obviously, there's a lot of pressure,' Walker told Australian Broadcasting Corp. after the results were announced late Monday. '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. 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,' she added. Previous young lawmakers Before Walker, the youngest senator was Jordon Steele-John of the Greens party, who was elected for Western Australia state in 2017 at the age of 23. Australia's youngest-ever federal lawmaker was Wyatt Roy, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 at the age of 20. He lasted two three-year terms before he was voted out of his Queensland state seat. Large swings at elections as occurred May 3 typically bring a larger proportion of women into the Parliament in seats that their parties hadn't realistically expected to win. Often the newcomers lose their seats when votes swing back at the next election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expects 57% of Labor lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives will be women when the new Parliament first sits on July 22. The proportion of women was 52% during Albanese's first term in government. Australian governments usually lose seats in their second term. Albanese leads the first federal government not to lose a single seat at an election since 1966. Labor is expected to hold 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, up from 78 in the last Parliament. Australian National University political historian Frank Bongiorno said unexpected swings can put women candidates into Parliament after seeking apparently unwinnable seats . But Bongiorno said Labor had been working on increasing women's representation since the party introduced a quota in 1994 that stated 35% of candidates in winnable seats had to be female. 'The fact that we now have not 50%, but 57% is partly a function of obviously just the size of the swing, but it is also, I think, very deliberate changes that have occurred within the Labor Party over about 30 years from what was a very male-dominated culture and environment,' Bongiorno said. The odds had been stacked against Walker being elected as her party's third choice in South Australia, Bongiorno said.
Arab News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Australia's new youngest senator elected at 21 with unexpected win
A woman who turned 21 on the day of Australia's federal election in May has been declared the nation's youngest ever senator. And like many female candidates who run for election in Australia, Charlotte Walker wasn't expected to win. The former union official won the governing center-left Labour Party's third Senate seat for South Australia state in a complicated rank order voting system. A party's third choice rarely wins. She had the lowest vote count of the six newly elected senators for the state. The Australian Electoral Commission officially declared the poll Tuesday. The new job will be a 'big adjustment,' said Walker, who starts her six-year term July 1. A federal lawmaker's base salary is more than 205,000 Australian dollars ($133,000) annually. 'There's a few feelings. Obviously, there's a lot of pressure,' Walker told Australian Broadcasting Corp. after the results were announced late Monday. '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. 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,' she added. Previous young lawmakers Before Walker, the youngest senator was Jordon Steele-John of the Greens party, who was elected for Western Australia state in 2017 at the age of 23. Australia's youngest-ever federal lawmaker was Wyatt Roy, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 at the age of 20. He lasted two three-year terms before he was voted out of his Queensland state seat. Large swings at elections as occurred May 3 typically bring a larger proportion of women into the Parliament in seats that their parties hadn't realistically expected to win. Often the newcomers lose their seats when votes swing back at the next election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expects 57 percent of Labor lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives will be women when the new Parliament first sits on July 22. The proportion of women was 52 percent during Albanese's first term in government. Australian governments usually lose seats in their second term. Albanese leads the first federal government not to lose a single seat at an election since 1966. Labor is expected to hold 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, up from 78 in the last Parliament. Australian National University political historian Frank Bongiorno said unexpected swings can put women candidates into Parliament after seeking apparently unwinnable seats . But Bongiorno said Labor had been working on increasing women's representation since the party introduced a quota in 1994 that stated 35 percent of candidates in winnable seats had to be female. 'The fact that we now have not 50 percent, but 57 percent is partly a function of obviously just the size of the swing, but it is also, I think, very deliberate changes that have occurred within the Labour Party over about 30 years from what was a very male-dominated culture and environment,' Bongiorno said. The odds had been stacked against Walker being elected as her party's third choice in South Australia, Bongiorno said.
