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AUSPOLLIEWATCH EVERY CLAIM LINKS TO ITS SOURCE · NOT A SCORECARD

Portrait of Kyam Maher

Kyam Maher

Australian Labor Party · South Australia · South Australian Legislative Council · Statewide (SA) · incumbent

Kyam Maher was born in December 1975 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to Jim Maher, a social worker of Irish and English descent, and Viv Maher, a social worker and Aboriginal activist. He spent his early childhood in Littlehampton in South Australia's Adelaide Hills before the family moved to Mount Gambier, where he attended Grant High School, and he later studied law and economics at the University of Adelaide. [source]

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.

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

As Shadow Attorney-General and Labor Leader in the Legislative Council, Kyam Maher introduced the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill in December 2020 and voted in favour of it at the final reading in the SA Legislative Council on 5 May 2021 (which passed 14 votes to 7).

Gender & LGBTQ+ policy verified

Labor MLC and Attorney-General. Drafted the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill 2024, the Malinauskas Government's legislation banning LGBTIQ conversion practices (passed October 2024, effective 1 April 2025). Publicly described conversion practices as 'a damaging practice that seeks to force members of the LGBTIQ community to abandon who they are under the guise of "saving" or "helping" them.'

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).

First Nations & treaty verified

As South Australian Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (and the first Indigenous person to hold the AG role in Australia), championed the First Nations Voice Act 2023, which created Australia's first legislated Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Remained strongly committed to it after the 2023 federal referendum defeat: "It's almost taken on a greater importance, because this is what we've got to hold onto," and pledged to restart SA's treaty process.

Record last updated 2026-08-13.