Liberal Party candidate Amelia Hamer wins preselection in Kooyong

An Oxford-educated professional with deep ties to the Liberal Party has beaten out her nearest rival, the chair of Transgender Victoria, to contest Monique Ryan’s Melbourne seat.

Kooyong MP Monique Ryan and Amelia Hamer, the new Liberal Party candidate.

Oxford-educated finance professional Amelia Hamer has won preselection to become the Liberal Party’s candidate for Josh Frydenberg’s former seat of Kooyong.

The 31-year-old grand-niece of former Victorian premier Sir Rupert Hamer and granddaughter of Liberal senator David Hamer beat out Transgender Victoria chair Rochelle Pattison on Saturday by 233 votes to 59.

Ms Hamer will aim to reclaim the Melbourne seat for the Liberal Party after it was lost by former treasurer Frydenberg to teal Monique Ryan at the 2022 federal election.

It is currently held by Dr Ryan on a margin of 2.94 per cent.

In a statement Ms Hamer said she was putting up her hand for the seat to fight to ensure future generations could access the same opportunities that past generations have had.

“I will fight to put home ownership back on the agenda for young Australians by tackling housing affordability and cost of living pressures,” she said.

Senator James Paterson told the Herald Sun that the party was lucky to have capable and qualified candidates like Amelia Hamer putting their hand up to serve their local community.

“Amelia has a strong connection to her community here in Kooyong and her genuine passion for service is clear to anyone who speaks with her,” she said.

“She will be a champion for young Australians.”

Amelia Hamer has a breadth of experience and will be a champion for the people of Kooyong.

Similarly, Andrew Constance continues his many years of service to the people of NSW, now as our candidate for Gilmore.

— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) March 23, 2024

Frydenberg’s seal of approval

While not formally backing any candidate before the preselection battle, Mr Frydenberg rang Ms Hamer in January to wish her well, assuring her she would have his support should she be preselected.

She studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford and worked in financial trading and venture capital roles in London and San Francisco, before returning home to Melbourne during the Covid pandemic and taking up a role as an adviser to then financial services minister Jane Hume.

Most recently she was in charge of commercial operations and strategy for fintech start-up Airwallex.

Former state Lib MP on comeback trail

Elsewhere, Liberal Party members voted to select Andrew Constance to contest the next federal election for the NSW seat of Gilmore.

Mr Constance, 50, won 80-69 over fellow candidate Paul Ell.

The former state transport minister ran in Gilmore at the 2022 federal election but lost to the ALP’s Fiona Philips by just 373 votes, a margin of 0.2 per cent, making it the most marginal seat in Australia.

Andrew Constance during the 2022 federal election. Picture: Rhiannon Down