Tim Wilson wins Liberal preselection in Goldstein, Amelia Hamer in Kooyong as party takes fight to teal MPs

The Liberal Party is planning to throw extensive resources at the two high-profile teal seats in Melbourne after selecting its candidates in Goldstein and Kooyong.

Liberals Tim Wilson and Amelia Hamer will contest Goldstein and Kooyong for the Liberals at the next federal election, seats held by Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel.

The Liberal Party is planning to throw extensive resources at the two high-profile teal seats in Melbourne after selecting former MP Tim Wilson and a relative of a former premier to contest the once heartland seats of Goldstein and Kooyong.

Mr Wilson, 44, secured more than half the vote of nearly 300 party members on Sunday to have another crack at the marginal sandbelt seat of Goldstein.

In a contested ballot, he defeated Liberal activist Colleen Harkin and former political adviser Stephanie Hunt to win the preselection in a seat held by teal and former ABC journalist Zoe Daniel, with a margin of 2.9 per cent.

It came after the party on Saturday elected Amelia Hamer – the grand niece of former Liberal Premier Dick Hamer – to become the candidate for Kooyong.

Kooyong is held by teal MP Monique Ryan and both independents are considered difficult to defeat after their first terms in parliament.

However, victory against the teals in several seats in inner Melbourne and Sydney is crucial for Peter Dutton if he wants to be able to defeat Labor after one term in office.

Both Mr Wilson and Ms Hamer, 31, were considered frontrunners to win their party endorsements.

Mr Wilson held Goldstein from 2016 to 2022.

The Liberal Party has preselected Tim Wilson for the seat of Goldstein at the next election. It’s a party decision made in what they believe is their best interest. I am proud to be a community-backed Independent, acting in the best interest of my community. I will run again. pic.twitter.com/PVvQ9UJVAU

— Zoe Daniel MP (she/her) (@zdaniel) March 24, 2024

Ms Daniel posted on X: “The Liberal Party has preselected Tim Wilson for the seat of Goldstein at the next election.’’

“It’s a party decision made in what they believe is their best interest. I am proud to be a community-backed Independent, acting in the best interest of my community. I will run again.’’

Mr Wilson suffered a more than 12 point swing on the primary vote in 2022 amid strong anti-Liberal sentiment in Victoria and in Goldstein.

The contest with Ms Daniel was bitter as the rising tide of teal sentiment genuinely shocked the Liberal Party.

Mr Wilson has been a high-profile MP in the area, with Ms Daniel securing 34.5 per cent of the primary vote in 2022.

Goldstein and Kooyong both run through some of the wealthiest suburbs in Australia but the inner city demographics have shifted sharply in the past decade, particularly in Kooyong, which has become younger and more progressive.

Ms Hamer said in a statement: “I am putting my hand up for Kooyong to fight to ensure future generations can 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.”

“As a young Australian my message to young people, wherever you live, is that we are the on the same side, and we can work together for a better future.”

Kooyong is the seat previously held by Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who has returned to the private sector.

It is possible he will attempt to return to parliament but ruled out a tilt at the next election, which is due next year.

Dick Hamer was premier from 1972 to 1981.