Charlotte Walker Becomes Australia's Youngest Senator at 21

In a surprising outcome in Australia’s federal election held on 27 May, 21-year-old Charlotte Walker was declared the country’s youngest senator. Her victory was unexpected, especially as she was a third-choice candidate for the governing center-left Labor Party from the state of South Australia.

Like many female candidates in Australia, Walker wasn’t expected to win. A former union official, she secured the seat through the country’s complex rank-order voting system. Typically, a party’s third Senate candidate has very slim chances of success.

Among the six newly elected senators from South Australia, Walker received the fewest first-preference votes. However, thanks to the preferences system, she managed to win the third Senate seat allocated to Labor.

The Australian Electoral Commission officially declared the results on 27 May 2025. Walker will begin her six-year term on 1 July, becoming one of the youngest individuals ever to serve in Australia's federal parliament.

Commenting on her win, Walker said that taking on this new role would be a “major adjustment.” As a federal senator, she will earn a base salary of over AUD 205,000 (approx. USD 133,000) per year.