In 2001 the Liberal Party won three seats: Senator Robert Hill, Senator Jeannie Ferris and Senator Grant Chapman. Labor won two seats: Senator Penny Wong and Senator Linda Kirk. The Australian Democrats Senator Natash Stott Despoja won the sixth spot. Senator Hill resigned in 2006 and was replaced by Senator Cory Bernardi. Senator Ferris, who was intending to retire at this year's election, died in April 2007. The casual vacancy caused by her death was filled by the number two candidate on the Liberal ticket, Simon Birmingham. These Senators face re-election in 2007. Senators Stott Despoja is retiring, while Senator Kirk has lost her preselection. The Liberal ticket is Senators Bernardi, Birmingham and Chapman (who has been in Parliament since 1975 without ever leaving the backbench). The Labor ticket is headed by the powerful Shop Distributive Employees Association (SDA) official Don Farrell, followed by Senator Wong and Cathy Perry. The lead Green candidate is Sarah Hanson-Young. The lead Democrat candidate is Ruth Russell. The lead Family First candidate is Tony Bates. The One Nation candidate is Mark Aldridge. In October independent state MP Nick Xenophon announced his candidature. Given his very high state profile, he must be given a good chance of winning a seat.

In 2004, the Liberals and Labor both won three seats, with Labor defeating the former Democrats leader Senator Meg Lees to win the last seat. The Liberals polled 47.4% of the vote (3.3 quotas), Labor polled 35.6% of the vote (2.5 quotas), the Greens polled 6.5% (0.5 quotas), the Democrats polled 2.3% (0.2 quotas). If the 2004 voting pattern is repeated, Stott Despoja's seat will go to Labor. If Xenophon is elected, it will probably be at the expense of the Liberals.

South Australian Senate Candidates Group A: One Nation Mark Aldridge David Dwyer Mark Aldridge Group B Brian Paterson A Brook Group C: Christian Democratic Party Bruno Colangelo Noelene Hunt Group D: Australian Fishing and Lifestyle Party Neil Armstrong Paul Tippins Neil Armstrong Group E: The Australian Shooters Party John Hahn Basil Borun Group F: The Greens Sarah Hanson-Young Nikki Mortier Matt Rigney Sarah Hanson-Young Group G: National Party Rob Howard Mark Cuthbertson Rob Howard Group H: Democratic Labor Party Garry Hardy David Mccabe Group I: Liberal Party Cory Bernardi * Simon Birmingham * Grant Chapman Maria Kourtesis Cory Bernardi Simon Birmingham Grant Chapman Group J: What Women Want Emma Neumann Morag McIntosh Emma Neumann Group K: Australian Labor Party Don Farrell Penny Wong * Cathy Perry Don Farrell Penny Wong Cathy Perry Group L: Climate Change Coalition Colin Endean Vidas Kubilius Group M: Citizens Electoral Council Martin Vincent Paul Siebert Group N: Senator On-Line Joel Clark Courtney Clarke Joel Clark Group O: Socialist Alliance Renfrey Clarke Liah Lazarou Renfrey Clarke Group P: Australian Democrats Ruth Russell Max Baumann Richard Way Ruth Russell Group Q: Family First Tony Bates Toni Turnbull Colin Gibson Tony Bates Group R: Liberty and Democracy David McAlary Mark Hill David McAlary Group S Nick Xenophon Roger Bryson Nick Xenophon Ungrouped Stewart Glass Michelle Drummond

---

Senators serving until 2011

Alan Ferguson (Liberal)

Mary Jo Fisher (Liberal)

Annette Hurley (Labor)

Anne McEwen (Labor)

Nick Minchin (Liberal)

Dana Wortley (Labor)

---

New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
Western Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory

---

Back to Senate page
Back to contents page