Light MP Tony Piccolo confirms he is considering running in neighbouring electorate Ngadjuri following electoral boundary redistribution

A reshuffle of state government politicians is on the cards ahead of the next election as one regional MP revealed he is considering a dramatic move.

A reshuffle of state government politicians is on the cards ahead of the next election as one regional MP revealed he is considering a dramatic move.

The Labor MP for Light, Tony Piccolo, is weighing up whether to switch electorates and run in the neighbouring seat of Ngadjuri.

It would mean leaving his safe seat to attempt to snare Ngadjuri – previously known as Frome – from first-term Liberal MP Penny Pratt.

Labor MP Tony Piccolo considering whether to switch electorates and run in the neighbouring seat of Ngadjur. Picture: Supplied

He would need to snare the seat – previously known as Frome – from first-term Liberal MP Penny Pratt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Ms Pratt won the seat with a margin of 8.2 per cent at the 2022 election, but a recent redistribution of electoral boundaries has notionally cut her margin to 3.3 per cent.

Under the redistribution, areas north of Gawler River – including Ward Belt, Gawler River, Gawler Belt, Buchfelde and Hewett – have been shifted from Light into Ngadjuri.

Mr Piccolo, who has represented Light since 2006, said his potential move has been prompted by the redraw.

“I have, over time, represented up to a third of this new electorate,” he said.

“Therefore, it is appropriate that I now take time to consider whether I should contest the new Light or the new seat of Ngadjuri at the 2026 state election.”

Ngadjuri covers parts of the state’s Mid-North including Clare, while Light takes in the area around Gawler.

Labor member for Light, Tony Piccolo MP. Picture: Supplied

Mr Piccolo’s departure would open the door for a new Labor candidate to take Light, which has a margin of nearly 20 per cent that escaped the redistribution unscathed.

Fuelling speculation that Mr Piccolo will go ahead with the move, he was last month appointed “duty member” for the electorate of Frome.

Duty members are MPs responsible for electorates that are not held by the party – a practice of both Labor and the Liberals.

In a Facebook post announcing his appointment, Mr Piccolo said he was available to offer “an additional and alternative voice” and advocate on behalf of the people of Frome in state parliament.

“An increasing number of people in Frome have previously been in the Light electorate and I don’t want to abandon them just because they no longer fall in my electorate boundary – they’re still dealing with regional issues,” he said.

In its final report, handed down earlier this month, the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission decided to rename Frome after concerns were raised about the chequered history of its namesake.

The seat, which had been named after Edward Charles Frome, South Australia’s third permanent surveyor general, has been renamed after the traditional owners of the land, the Ngadjuri people.

Mr Piccolo had previously been the duty member assigned to Schubert, another neighbouring Liberal-held electorate.

The next state election will be held on March 21, 2026.

Originally published as Light MP Tony Piccolo confirms he is considering running in neighbouring electorate Ngadjuri following electoral boundary redistribution