SA's largest electorate to renamed in honour of Aboriginal leader

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this story includes the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died.

South Australia’s largest federal electorate of Grey will be renamed O’Donoghue following a decision by the Australian Electoral Commission.

The change will honour Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue - a Yankunytjatjara woman who made significant contributions across the region in the fields of health, education and social justice, including becoming the first Aboriginal person to train as a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and serving as the inaugural chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

The electorate of Grey will be renamed to O'Donoghue to honour the legacy Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue — a Yankunytjatjara woman who made significant contributions across the region in the fields of health, education and social justice. IMAGE: Lowitja Institute

Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue being awarded 1984 Australian of the Year. IMAGE: Lowitja Institute

The change has been welcomed by Dr O’Donoghue’s family, who said they “gratefully acknowledge” the decision and thanked the public for their contributions towards honouring her through this change.

In a statement released by the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation, the family said "Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue was born, raised, worked, and lived within the electorate for much of her life, and over many decades made substantial contributions to the region across health, education, and social justice rights."

"She always considered it to be her home, no matter where her career path took her."

Liberal MP says constituents were left "unheard" in final outcome

The decision to rename the large electorate, a proposition first floated back in March 2026, was not made without opposition.

In the wake of the AEC's decision, Federal Member for Grey Tom Venning said he was "disappointed that the people of Grey have been ignored by the AEC” over the change.

Federal Member for Grey (soon to be O'Donoghue) Tom Venning said while Dr O’Donoghue was a “worthy namesake”, 239 of the 310 submissions received regarding the proposed name change did not support the move. IMAGE: Supplied.

In his submission to the Commission regarding the matter, Mr Venning said Dr O'Donoghue was a "worthy namesake", but the name Grey has been in "continuous use for over 120 years" and is "well established" across the region.

The electorate was previously named in 1903 for British colonial administrator Sir George Grey, who was made governor of South Australia in 1840.

Mr Venning said 239 of the 310 submissions received regarding the name change did not support the move, and that the outcome would leave many constituents feeling their views had not been reflected in the final result.

“The AEC is supposed to be an institution charged with upholding democracy," he said.

"What is the point of the AEC conducting public consultation if, even with an overwhelming majority opposing the name change, they continue with it anyway?”

“This decision will leave many of my constituents feeling like their views were not reflected in the final outcome.”

Name to change but existing boundaries to stay

While the name of South Australia's largest electorate is set to change, its boundaries will remain as is, despite a proposal to expand the region to include parts of Salisbury and Playford. IMAGE: Supplied.

While the decision to rename the electorate has divided opinion, the AEC's call to retain Grey's existing boundaries amidst a redistribution of the state's seats has been widely welcomed.

Mr Venning previously said such an expansion - which would've seen parts of Salisbury and Playford added to the electorate - would exacerbate the already significant logistical task of representing Grey - and dilute its focus on regional, rural and remote communities.