ADELAIDE: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) is pleased to present our report card for the 2026 South Australian State Election.
With early-voting centres opening on Saturday, 14 March 2026, the ANC-AU’s Election Report Card highlights candidates who have gone above and beyond in support of the Armenian-Australian community, either by advocating for our issues or through supporting our community.
House of Assembly
The Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP
The Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP will be running for the Labor Party in the seat of West Torrens, situated to the West of Adelaide City and encompasses the suburbs of Allenby Gardens, Brooklyn Park, Cowandilla, Flinders Park, Hilton, Hindmarsh, Keswick Terminal, Mile End, Mile End South, Richmond, Thebarton, Torrensville, Underdale, Welland, West Hindmarsh, and West Richmond.
The Treasurer of South Australia - has been one of the loudest voices in support of Armenian-Australians in the South Australian Parliament, speaking in support of Armenian-Australian issues on several occasions:
- In 2009, Koutsantonis spoke in support of a motion which recognised the Armenian, Assyrian & Greek Genocides in South Australia.
- In 2021, Koutsantonis moved an historic motion on Artsakh in the House of Assembly, making South Australia the second jurisdiction to recognise the Republic of Artsakh.
- In 2022, Koutsantonis moved a motion in the House of Assembly, acknowledging the 1915 Genocides and reaffirming the Parliament’s recognition of these genocides.
- In 2025, Koutsantonis once again championed a motion on Artsakh, moving a motion in the Lower House to commemorate the 5 year Anniversary of the Artsakh War as well as calling for pro-Armenian measures.
In recognition of Koutsantonis’ long history of steadfast support, he was awarded with the ANC-AU’s 2026 Armenian Community Friend of the Year Award, where he announced a $20,000 funding commitment to South Australia’s Armenian community.
The Hon. Zoe Bettison MP
The Hon. Zoe Bettison MP - who currently serves as the Minister for Multicultural Affairs & Tourism - will be running for the Labor Party in the seat of Ramsay. Situated toward the northern fringes of metropolitan Adelaide, Ramsay encompasses the suburbs of Brahma Lodge, Burton, Direk, Elizabeth Vale, Salisbury, Salisbury North, Salisbury Plain, and Salisbury South.
In 2021, Bettison, who is a member of the Australian Friends of Artsakh Network, rose in the House of Assembly, speaking in support of a motion commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian, Assyrian & Greek Genocides.
The Hon. Andrea Michaels MP
The Hon. Andrea Michaels MP will be running for Labor Party in the seat of Enfield, encompassing the suburbs of Blair Athol, Broadview, Clearview, Enfield, Gepps Cross, Lightsview, Northfield, Northgate, Sefton Park and Walkley Heights.
As a member of the Australian Friends of Artsakh Network, Michaels rose in the House of Assembly in 2021, speaking in support of the Republic of Artsakh and condemning Azerbaijani aggression in the region.
The Hon. David Pisoni MP
The Hon. David Pisoni MP - who is currently serving as the Opposition Leader - will be running for the Liberal Party in the seat of Unley, which covers the inner southern suburbs of Adelaide immediately south of the CBD from Unley to Urrbrae, including Hyde Park, Unley Park, Malvern, Wayville, Goodwood, Kings Park, Parkside, Fullarton, Myrtle Bank, Highgate, Hawthorn, Kingswood, Netherby, and parts of Millswood and Glen Osmond.
Both in 2021 & 2022, Pisoni rose in the House of Assembly speaking in support of motions commemorating the 1915 Genocides.
Legislative Council
The Hon. Connie Bonaros MLC
The Hon. Connie Bonaros MLC, who is of Greek descent and will be running as an independent, has been a vocal supporter of the Armenian-Australian community since 2021, having publicly declared her support for Armenian Genocide recognition and Artsakh on numerous occasions. In 2021, Bonaros rose in the Legislative Council to speak in support of a motion commemorating the Armenian, Assyrian & Greek Genocides.
Most recently, in 2025, as a member of the Australian Friends of Artsakh Network, Bonaros championed a key motion in the Legislative Council acknowledging the 5 year Anniversary of the Artsakh War as well as calling for pro-Armenian measures. During her moving speech in support of the motion, Bonaros said: “There can be no lasting peace without justice. The right of return must be upheld, Armenian hostages must be released, the systemic destruction of Armenian culture and religious heritage must end and our government must do more than speak platitudes of peace.”
The Hon. Tammy Franks MLC
The Hon. Tammy Franks MLC - who will be running as an independent in the Legislative Council - has been a vocal and consistent supporter of the Armenian-Australian community, speaking in support of their issues several times in the Legislative Council.
In 2025, as a member of the Australian Friends of Artsakh Network, Franks delivered a passionate speech in support of a motion acknowledging the 5 year Anniversary of the Artsakh War, in which she said: “With Azerbaijan now occupying sovereign Armenian territory, the cost of silence towards this hatred is mounting. If that silence persists, we may witness the destruction of Armenia itself and the erasure of its indigenous people from a homeland that they have inhabited for thousands of years. Our silence is complicity.”
The Hon. Jing Lee MLC
The Hon. Jing Lee MLC, who will be running as an independent in the Legislative Council, has been a member of the Australian Friends of Artsakh Network since 2025, and is a vocal supporter of the Armenian-Australian community. Lee has spoken on Armenian-Australian issues in both 2021 & 2025, speaking in support of Genocide recognition and the rights of Artsakh Armenians. Lee will be running as an independent in the Legislative Council.
Notable Supporters
The ANC-AU would also like to highlight Parliamentarians who have shown considerable support towards the Armenian-Australian community, either through speeches in Parliament, attending community gatherings or through joining the Australian Friends of Artsakh Network (FOA). These supporters are:
- The Hon. Olivia Savvas MP - Labor Candidate for Newland and a FOA member.
- The Hon. Joe Szackas MP - Labor Candidate for Cheltenham and a FOA member.
- The Hon. Vincent Tarzia MP - Liberal Candidate for Hartley and has spoken in support of Artsakh.
- The Hon. Jayne Stinson MP - Liberal Candidate for Badcoe and has spoken in support of Artsakh.
- The Hon. Tony Piccolo MP - Labor Candidate for Light and a FOA member.
