Comprehensive seat-by-seat guide for the 2022 federal election in SA

Elections can get a little confusing, which is why we’ve created this SA seat-by-seat guide revealing the likely winners, losers and the wild and wacky.

South Australians are probably sick of hearing the word “Boothby” by now. Until Sturt recently came into play to spice up the federal election in SA, Boothby was the state’s only key marginal seat that a bloke called Albo desperately wanted to win, and another bloke known as ScoMo wanted to hold on to.

But what about the other seats around the state? Who holds them, and are any of the sitting MPs at risk of losing? We give you our tips for winners in SA’s key seats and tell you some burning hot favourites to keep an eye on. Plus, check out five interesting and quirky races across the rest of the country.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide (ALP, 8.2%) – We might live in a democracy but don’t expect your vote to count much if you’re a Liberal supporter in this once-marginal seat. Labor incumbent Steve Georganas switched from Left to Right factions in 2019 but his election is as assured as a Communist candidate in China.

Barker (Lib, 18.9%) – Wondering why you miss out on pork-barrelling in the South-East and Riverland? It’s because you live in one of the safest Liberal seats in the country, where Tony Pasin is at unbackable odds for another victory.

Boothby (Lib, 1.4%) – The carrot to Labor’s donkey for years after repeated failed attempts to snare it from the Liberals. But this time the donkey may be about to grab the carrot – Boothby looks set to fall to Labor after almost 73 years in Liberal hands.

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Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost looks set to end the Liberals’ 73-year rule over Boothby. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Grey (Lib, 13.3%) – Covering more than 92 per cent of the state, Grey is an electorate in which candidates need planes and automobiles just to meet voters. Unfortunately, grain trains are being scrapped – a key issue for independent Liz Habermann who at the March state election pushed the Liberals to the brink in the smaller Eyre Peninsula seat of Flinders. The tyranny of distance and a lateish start to her campaign will hand this seat, again, to Liberal Rowan Ramsey.

Hindmarsh (ALP, 6.5%) Another case of viva el presidente for the assured re-election of former Labor state and national president Mark Butler.

Kingston (ALP, 11.9%) The southern suburbs once were a federal battleground – but Labor’s Amanda Rishworth is now safe as houses.

Mayo (Centre Alliance, 5.1%) – Rebekha Sharkie didn’t need any help but her re-election was cemented when her Liberal rival Allison Bluck blundered by incorrectly claiming in a mailout she was the manager of the Kangaroo Island Nature Trail. For the record, the trail manager is Alison Buck.

Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie should comfortably hold on to Mayo, especially after her Liberal opponent made an embarrassing stuff-up.

Makin (ALP, 9.7%) Former fitness centre manager Tony Zappia won’t have to exert himself at all to win this northeastern Adelaide seat.

Spence (ALP, 14.1%) One straight from the Labor playbook – union leader Matt Burnell will be installed in this safe northern Adelaide seat.

Sturt (Lib, 6.9%) Rising Liberal star James Stevens fell asleep during a crucial parliamentary vote in February. It might become his best-known political act. Electors in his seat swung against the Liberals at the state election and Vickie Chapman has done Mr Stevens no favours by sending some of them to the polls three times within months. An against-the-odds Labor victory is on the cards.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Bass (Lib, 0.4%) This northeast Tasmanian seat flips and flops more than a pair of Havaianas – and it looks like the Liberals will bust another plugger again as Bridget Archer becomes the next likely victim of a fickle electorate that changes its mind more than one’s underwear.

Kooyong (Lib, 6.4%) It’s just as well for Josh Frydenberg that Carlton are in blistering form this year, because the number one ticket holder will soon have a bit more time on his hands to watch his beloved navy Blues after Saturday as he looks set to lose his Melbourne seat to a different shade of blue – “teal” independent Monique Ryan.

We’re expecting Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to have a bit more time on his hands to watch his beloved Carlton in blistering form. Picture: AAP Image/Ellen Smith

Goldstein (Lib, 7.8%) He might be a lefty at heart, but the teal onslaught simply does not care. Former ABC journalist Zoe Daniel is expected to unseat Tim Wilson from his traditionally safe Melbourne bayside seat of Goldstein, in another major coup for the Climate 200 pack.

Kennedy (KAP, 13.3%) Let there be a thousand blossoms bloom, but as far as Bob Katter is concerned, he ain’t spending any time mucking about in his massive Queensland electorate. When crocodiles fly is when Katter loses this seat without retiring.

Warringah (Ind, 7.2%) Since defeating well known onion connoisseur Tony Abbott – who we are told was also the Prime Minister once – in the 2019 election, independent Zali Steggall has cemented her supporter base of lefties in the affluent seat on Sydney’s north shore. Her opponent Katherine Deves is probably the most controversial candidate this election after it emerged she described transgender children as “surgically mutilated” in tweets she has since apologised for.

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Originally published as Comprehensive seat-by-seat guide for the 2022 federal election in SA