Adelaide, SA — Turning Point Australia, the Australian affiliate of the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, has announced its expansion into South Australia ahead of the March 2026 state election. The group has appointed George-Alexander Mamalis, a conservative social media personality and former staffer to several prominent political figures, as its new state coordinator.
This marks the first time in Australia that Turning Point Australia has formally established a state leadership position. The group boasts over 290,000 followers on Facebook, with 184,000 joining since Kirk’s death on September 10, according to Joel Jammal, head of Turning Point Australia.
Jammal stated that South Australia was the “most urgent state to set up a state chapter” due to the upcoming election. He emphasized the need to inform South Australians about the candidates running and their platforms. The new chapter plans to conduct events in the community and on university campuses in the spirit of Charlie Kirk.
While the group’s expansion is seen as a strategic move to influence the upcoming election, it has raised concerns among some political figures. Greens MLC Robert Simms described the move as “alarming,” expressing concerns about the shift happening on the right of South Australian politics and the adoption of strategies resembling those of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In contrast, SA Liberal Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia stated that people are free to express their views and that he was focused on winning votes in the center of politics.
Turning Point Australia has indicated that it does not plan to run a candidate in the state election or become a political party. However, with plans to spend more than $10,000 on election-related activities, it will need to register as a third-party campaigner under South Australia’s electoral laws.
The group’s expansion into South Australia adds a new dynamic to the state’s political landscape as the 2026 election approaches.
[SRC] https://theabj.com.au/2025/10/06/turning-point-australia-expands-into-south-australia/
