Federal election 2025: Tony Pasin re-elected in Barker

Liberal MP Tony Pasin will serve a fifth term in federal parliament as the Murraylands’ representative in Canberra, but will be in opposition again.

With 99 per cent of votes counted in the electorate of Barker on Saturday night, Mr Pasin was poised for victory, with about 48% of voters’ first preferences.

Trailing him were Labor’s James Rothe on 22%, then the Greens’ Major Sumner on about 9% and One Nation’s Jenny Troethe on 8%.

The Liberal share of the vote dropped by four percentage points when compared with the 2022 election.

However, the swing away from the Coalition was more pronounced elsewhere around Australia.

Murray Bridge is getting a new playground

At a national level, Labor is assured of being returned to government after winning about a dozen extra seats in parliament, according to ABC projections.

Liberal leader Peter Dutton admitted defeat around 9pm on Saturday, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claimed victory soon afterwards.

What does that mean for the Murraylands?

Labor’s major campaign promise locally was $4.85 million for a new nature playground at Murray Bridge’s Sturt Reserve, a project which will also receive funding from the city’s council.

A second Swanport Bridge and freight bypass through Monarto were due to be built no matter which party won the election.

The federal government included funding for that project in its 2025-26 budget, which was finalised just before the election campaign began.

More information about the candidates, issues and promises

Click on the toggles below to look back at some of our campaign coverage.