
Sarah Hanson-Young
Counted against the divisions held while they sat, not the whole parliament. Absence from a division is not abstention: pairing arrangements, leave and parliamentary duties are not distinguished in the official record. How these figures are computed.
Background
| Born | 23 Dec 1981, Melbourne, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Entered parliament | 1 Jul 2008 |
| Parliaments | 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th |
| Qualification | Institution |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Social Science | University of Adelaide |
Occupations before parliament
| Role | Organisation | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Freelance writer and columnist | from 2007 | |
| Bank teller | BankSA | 2004 |
| Campaign manager | Amnesty International (SA/NT) | 2004 – 2008 |
| President | Students' Association, University of Adelaide (SA) | 2003 |
| Environment Officer | Students' Association, University of Adelaide (SA) | 2001 – 2002 |
| Customer service | Adelaide Central Markets | 2000 – 2003 |
Committee service
| Committee | Role | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procedure Senate Standing | Member | 26 Jul 2022 | current |
| Environment and Communications: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Deputy Chair from 19 Sep 2019 | 16 Sep 2019 | current |
| Environment and Communications: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Chair from 19 Sep 2019 | 16 Sep 2019 | current |
| Multi-Jurisdictional Management and Execution of the Murray Darling Basin Plan Senate Select | Member | 1 Aug 2019 | 30 Sep 2021 |
| Environment and Communications: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 24 Jul 2019 | 17 Sep 2019 |
| Environment and Communications: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 14 Feb 2019 | 26 Mar 2019 |
| Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 14 Feb 2019 | 1 Jul 2019 |
| Economics: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 6 Dec 2018 | 22 Feb 2019 |
| Fair Dinkum Power Senate Select | Chair from 6 Dec 2018 to 28 Jun 2019 | 15 Nov 2018 | 28 Jun 2019 |
| Environment and Communications: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 18 Oct 2018 | 1 Apr 2019 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 19 Sep 2018 | 10 Oct 2018 |
| Economics: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 22 Mar 2018 | 14 Aug 2018 |
| Environment and Communications: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 24 Oct 2017 | 25 Oct 2017 |
| Environment and Communications: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 19 Oct 2017 | 26 Mar 2019 |
| Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 17 Aug 2017 | 29 Nov 2018 |
| Future of Public Interest Journalism Senate Select | Member | 9 Aug 2017 | 5 Feb 2018 |
| National Broadband Network Joint Standing | Member | 9 Aug 2017 | 7 Dec 2017 |
| Treaties Joint Standing | Member | 9 Aug 2017 | 11 Apr 2019 |
| Human Rights Joint Statutory | Member | 2 Feb 2017 | 3 Feb 2017 |
| Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 13 Oct 2016 | 7 Feb 2017 |
| Resilience of Electricity Infrastructure in a Warming World Senate Select | Chair | 13 Oct 2016 | 7 Apr 2017 |
| Environment and Communications: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 10 Oct 2016 | 11 May 2017 |
| Education and Employment: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 1 Sep 2016 | 21 Aug 2018 |
| Education and Employment: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 1 Sep 2016 | 21 Aug 2018 |
| Treaties Joint Standing | Member | 1 Sep 2016 | 14 Jun 2017 |
| Education and Employment: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 3 Dec 2015 | 4 Apr 2016 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 12 Oct 2015 | 9 May 2016 |
| Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru Senate Select | Member | 26 Mar 2015 | 31 Aug 2015 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 5 Mar 2015 | 5 Jun 2015 |
| Education and Employment: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 26 Jun 2014 | 28 Aug 2014 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 27 Mar 2014 | 10 Feb 2015 |
| Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 17 Mar 2014 | 27 Mar 2014 |
| Education and Employment: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 12 Dec 2013 | 16 Jul 2014 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 10 Dec 2013 | 18 Mar 2014 |
| National Capital and External Territories Joint Standing | Member | 2 Dec 2013 | 9 May 2016 |
| Senators' Interests Senate Standing | Member | 12 Nov 2013 | 9 May 2016 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 31 Oct 2012 | 30 Apr 2013 |
| Environment and Communications: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 11 Oct 2012 | 19 Nov 2012 |
| Environment and Communications: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 22 Mar 2012 | 1 May 2012 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 25 Nov 2011 | 13 Sep 2012 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 8 Nov 2011 | 21 Nov 2011 |
| Corporations and Financial Services Joint Statutory | Member | 11 Oct 2011 | 27 Feb 2012 |
| Australia's Immigration Detention Network Joint Select | Deputy Chair | 16 Jun 2011 | 30 Mar 2012 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 10 May 2011 | 10 Jun 2011 |
| Christmas Island Tragedy Joint Select | Member | 3 Mar 2011 | 29 Jun 2011 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 25 Oct 2010 | 18 Aug 2011 |
| Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 15 Jun 2010 | 6 Aug 2010 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 15 Jun 2010 | 26 Jul 2010 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 18 Mar 2010 | 4 May 2010 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 25 Jun 2009 | 26 Nov 2009 |
| Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 18 Jun 2009 | 18 Dec 2009 |
| Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 14 May 2009 | 5 Jul 2011 |
| Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 14 May 2009 | 5 Jul 2011 |
| Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Standing | Member | 4 Dec 2008 | 5 Aug 2013 |
| Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 27 Nov 2008 | 23 Nov 2009 |
| Finance and Public Administration Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 16 Sep 2008 | 13 May 2009 |
| Migration Joint Standing | Member | 27 Aug 2008 | 9 May 2016 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 1 Jul 2008 | 14 May 2009 |
Memberships as the Parliamentary Handbook records them; current means no end date is recorded.
Election history
| Election | Electorate | Party | First pref % | Swing | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 federal election | Senate, South Australia | The Greens | 12.90 | Elected 5th of 6 | |
| 2019 federal election | Senate, South Australia | The Greens | 10.91 | Elected 5th of 6 | |
| 2016 federal election | Senate, South Australia | The Greens | 5.87 | Elected 11th of 12 | |
| 2013 federal election | Senate, South Australia | Australian Greens | 7.09 | Elected 4th of 6 | |
| 2007 federal election | Senate, South Australia | The Greens | 6.49 | Elected 6th of 6 |
First-preference share of the formal vote at each event, matched by name within the member's state. A Senate row gives the whole group's share of the state's formal vote, since most Senate votes are cast for a group above the line.
Parliamentary expenses
| Category | Apr-Jun 2026 | Jan-Mar 2026 | Oct-Dec 2025 | Jul-Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office Facilities | $48,214 | $46,220 | $43,194 | $49,874 |
| Employee Travel | $22,723 | $16,598 | $44,239 | $27,345 |
| Office Administration | $29,110 | $12,562 | $12,530 | $25,687 |
| Scheduled Commercial Transport | $10,422 | $12,647 | $13,509 | $18,397 |
| Travel Allowance | $12,239 | $11,222 | $17,885 | $12,152 |
| Family or Nominee Travel | $0 | $2,860 | $8,782 | $9,171 |
| Other Car Costs | $3,520 | $1,456 | $1,970 | $2,992 |
| Telecommunications | $1,308 | $1,055 | $1,344 | $1,676 |
| Unscheduled Commercial Transport | $1,066 | $806 | $1,195 | $300 |
| Total | $128,603 | $105,425 | $144,648 | $147,593 |
Expenditure as the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority publishes it each quarter, in its own categories, rounded to the dollar. Travel distances, office locations and roles differ, so totals do not compare between members. IPEA's reports and notes.
Funding disclosures
| Election | Electorate | Donations | Donors | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 federal election | Senate, South Australia | Nil return | ||
| 2019 federal election | Senate, South Australia | Nil return | ||
| 2016 federal election | Senate, South Australia | Nil return | ||
| 2013 federal election | Senate, South Australia | Nil return | ||
| 2007 federal election | Senate, South Australia | Nil return | ||
Returns as lodged with the AEC: a candidate's return covers the gifts received and electoral expenditure for that election, a member's annual return the gifts received in the financial year. A nil return records no gifts or spending of the candidate's own. A party-endorsed candidate lodges one when the party or its campaign committee handled the campaign's money, and the party discloses it in its own returns. AEC Transparency Register.
Bills raised
| Bill | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Code Amendment (Equal Access to Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2026 | Sponsor | Before Senate |
| Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2022 | Sponsor | Before Senate |
| Great Australian Bight (World Heritage Protection) Bill 2025 | Sponsor | Before Senate |
| Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban Gambling Ads) Bill 2024 | Sponsor | Before Senate |
| Online Safety Amendment (Fix Our Feeds) Bill 2026 | Sponsor | Before Senate |
Sponsor marks the member's own bill; Introduced marks bills they moved, typically as the responsible minister.
Voting record 784 divisions
Photo: Australian Greens Senators (CC BY-SA 2.5 au), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Wikidata, Parliamentary Handbook, AEC (CC BY 4.0), IPEA (CC BY 3.0 AU), AEC disclosures (CC BY 4.0), They Vote For You (ODbL). Errors? Request a correction.