Sharkie helped by junior volunteer

Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie has praised a young volunteer who couldn't vote for her and can't vote for her next time.

Central Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie with young volunteer Max Schmidt

Adelaide Hills schoolboy Max Schmidt has early training as election volunteer for Rebekha Sharkie (AAP)

He may not be old enough to vote in this election, the next election or even the one after that but that hasn't stopped 11-year-old Max Schmidt having his say in the South Australian seat of Mayo.

The Adelaide Hills schoolboy has been volunteering for Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie during the campaign, including handing out how-to-vote cards on Saturday.

He says he was attracted by her policies on climate change and her opposition to oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight.

"Climate change, drilling in the Bight, the Murray Darling Basin Plan, how that's not working - that's what's really important to me right now," the Stirling schoolboy said.

He first took a keen interest in politics at the 2016 federal election and that interest grew at the last state election in 2018 and the Mayo by-election last year.

He picked a winner on that day with Ms Sharkie and is almost certain to be on the winning side again.

With about 20 per cent of the vote counted the popular MP was ahead and looked set to be returned to Canberra with 52.5 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote.

Her margin over Liberal candidate Georgina Downer was almost identical to that of last year's by-election.

And while Max says he isn't particularly looking for a career in politics, Ms Sharkie is confident he'll one day make his mark.

"This young man here is going to be a future member for Mayo, let me tell you," she said.


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Source: AAP


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