Sourced positions
A verified position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.
Faith & religion verified
Hunter is an atheist; he contributed a chapter titled 'Parliament and Prayer' to the 2010 Australian Book of Atheism and has publicly described opening parliament with prayer as archaic.
Abortion & reproductive policy verified
Voted against Sarah Game's bill to restrict access to late-term abortions in the Legislative Council on 17 June 2026; the bill passed the upper house 10 votes to 9 but was later defeated in the House of Assembly. Also voted against Liberal MLC Ben Hood's 2024 Termination of Pregnancy amendment bill, which was defeated in the Legislative Council 10 votes to 9 in October 2024.
Voluntary assisted dying verified
Voted in favour (Aye) of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill at its final reading in the SA Legislative Council on 5 May 2021, which passed 14 votes to 7.
Gender & LGBTQ+ policy verified
Long-serving Labor MLC and the first openly gay/LGBTI member of the SA Parliament and Cabinet. A prominent same-sex marriage advocate: delivered a 2009 parliamentary speech calling for marriage equality and co-sponsored a 2011 Marriage Equality Bill with Greens MLC Tammy Franks, at one point calling Labor's then-policy on marriage 'morally bankrupt'. He married his partner overseas before Australian law recognised same-sex marriage. In Nov 2023 he spoke in the Legislative Council relaying a survivor's account in support of banning conversion practices.
Religious freedom verified
Hunter, an atheist, has advocated secular reform, repeatedly calling for the removal of prayers from the opening of parliament, and in late 2023 called for South Australia to ban conversion practices in step with other states.
Freedom of speech verified
Voted for the third reading of the Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Amendment Bill 2023, which amended the obstruction offence in the Summary Offences Act 1953 (Legislative Council, 30 May 2023; Ayes 13, Noes 4).
Hunting (duck & native birds) verified
Labor MLC and former minister who signed off on hunting seasons 2013-2018. As a member of the SA Select Committee on Hunting of Native Birds he dissented from the majority recommendation, attaching a statement that duck hunting 'necessarily means supporting deliberate cruelty to animals' and declaring that 'Duck and quail hunting in South Australia should be made illegal.'
Record last updated 2026-08-13.