State South Australia Electors 23,842 (2014) Area 459.7 km² Elector 23,842 | MP Tony Piccolo Demographic Rural Member of parliament Tony Piccolo Namesake William Light | |
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Dates current 1857–1902, 1938–present Party Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch) | ||
Light is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. As its area overlaps or is adjacent to the south western portion of the Light Regional Council and the south bank of the Light River, it is indirectly named after Colonel William Light, the first Surveyor-General of South Australia. The electorate was created in 1857, abolished at the 1902 election and recreated at the 1938 election. Covering a total area of 459.7 km², Light consists of Gawler, surrounding areas and rural areas to the north, extending south of the Gawler River through to the far outer northern Adelaide suburbs of Munno Para West and parts of Munno Para Downs. It is classed as a rural seat.
A redistribution prior to the 2002 election saw the traditionally fairly safe Liberal seat become a marginal seat. The 2006 election saw Tony Piccolo become only the second Labor member ever to win it, and the first Labor member for the seat in 62 years. At the 2010 election he increased his margin against the statewide trend and became the first Labor member to be re-elected to Light. A redistribution prior to the 2014 election saw Labor's margin significantly reduced from 5.3 percent to 2.8 percent, however Labor again retained the seat on an unchanged margin.