The Victorian Liberal Party has chosen Amelia Hamer, an Oxford-educated Liberal with deep roots in the party, as its candidate for the upcoming election in a bid to reclaim Josh Frydenberg’s former seat of Kooyong.
Hamer, aged 31, emerged victorious in a four-way preselection contest held in Hawthorn on Saturday, securing 233 out of 329 votes from party members. She boasts a strong lineage within the Liberal Party, being the granddaughter of former Liberal Senator David Hamer and grand-niece of former Victorian premier Rupert ‘Dick’ Hamer.
Rochelle Pattison, Chair of Transgender Victoria, came in second in the Kooyong preselection with 59 votes, while tax lawyer Michael Flynn and vascular surgeon Susan Morris secured 20 and 15 votes respectively.
Traditionally a safe seat for the Liberals, Kooyong was lost in the 2022 “Teal wave” to Monique Ryan by a slim margin. Hamer aims to reclaim it, emphasizing her commitment to addressing issues like housing affordability and cost of living pressures, particularly for young Australians.
Having studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford University, Hamer pursued a career in financial trading and venture capital in London and San Francisco before returning to Melbourne during the COVID-19 pandemic. She served as a policy adviser to Victorian Senator Jane Hume before joining fintech firm Airwallex as Director of Strategy.
Former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg congratulated Hamer on her preselection victory, expressing support for her and the party in the upcoming campaign. Meanwhile, Victorian Senator James Paterson praised Hamer’s qualifications and dedication to serving the community, highlighting her experience in investment banking and venture capital as assets for delivering strong economic management.
In addition to Hamer’s selection, attention now turns to the Goldstein preselection, where former MP Tim Wilson is anticipated to seek to regain the seat he lost in 2022.
