Ashton Hurn

Last updated

Ashton Hurn
Leader of the Opposition in South Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 December 2025
Signature Ashton Hurn signature 2023.svg

Ashton Morgan Hurn (born 14 January 1991) [1] is an Australian politician serving as the 46th South Australian Leader of the Opposition since 2025. She has been Leader of the South Australian Liberal Party since 2025 and a member of the South Australian House of Assembly since the 2022 state election, representing Schubert. [2] [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Hurn grew up in Angaston, the daughter of a farmer. [4] She is the granddaughter of Brian Hurn, who had been mayor of Barossa Council, and the sister of Shannon Hurn, who played Australian Rules football for West Coast Eagles. [5]

Hurn attended Nuriootpa High School. [6] She was a South Australian Institute of Sport netballer, [7] and played in the South Australian representative 19 & Under team in 2010. [8] She studied social sciences at university. [4]

Career

Hurn began working for then MP Steven Marshall one day a week while at university, eventually becoming Director of Media and Communications for him as Premier for four years, including throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. [7]

In 2014, Hurn ran for pre-selection for the South Australian Liberal Party seat of Schubert. She was defeated by Stephan Knoll, who held the seat until 2022. [7] After Knoll retired from politics, Hurn successfully stood for the seat at the 2022 state election. [2] She was given the portfolio of health in the shadow cabinet of David Speirs. [9] She is part of the moderate wing of the party. [10]

After Vincent Tarzia stepped down as Liberal leader in December 2025, Hurn was unanimously elected as the new leader of the party, the second woman to hold the position after Isobel Redmond. [11] She was also the third female Liberal leader installed within three weeks, after Victoria's Jess Wilson and New South Wales' Kellie Sloane. [12]

Personal life

Hurn is married to Adam Howard, who was previously a media adviser for Christopher Pyne. [6] They have a son who was born in May 2024. [13]

References

  1. ↑ "Birth notices". The Advertiser . 16 January 1991.
  2. 1 2 Boisvert, Eugene (20 March 2022). "Five women join Labor's ranks in newly elected South Australian government". ABC News. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Ashton Morgan Hurn". Members of the Parliament of South Australia . Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  4. 1 2 Helbig, Heidi. "Heritage and Hard Work". The Barossa Mag (Summer 2024/25 ed.). Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Shannon Hurn retirement: West Coast Eagle's sister Ashton praises 'all-in' approach of outgoing great". The West. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 Kirley, Ryan (8 December 2025). "From Barossa royalty, sporting stars to Liberal leader: The famous family behind Ashton Hurn" . The Mercury. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "Schubert - SA Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  8. ↑ Netball SA (2010). "Annual Report" (PDF). p. 18. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  9. ↑ Martin, Patrick (21 April 2022). "SA Liberals unveil shadow cabinet that sees women and youth promoted". ABC News. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  10. ↑ Starick, Paul (28 November 2025). "Inside the failed Liberal plot to replace Vincent Tarzia with Ashton Hurn" . The Advertiser. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  11. ↑ "Ashton Hurn confirmed as SA Liberal leader months out from March election". ABC News. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  12. ↑ Penberthy, David (8 December 2025). "SA Liberal Party elects Ashton Hurn as its new leader" . The Australian. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "It's a boy! Ashton and Adam welcome their son home to Angaston". The Leader. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
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