Human climate rocket Amelia Hamer is the Liberal candidate competing for her party’s nomination in the closely contested Melbourne seat of Kooyong. She’s rapidly become the center of a major political firestorm. She’s the grand-niece of former Victorian Premier Rupert Hamer. In a race marred by personal attacks, calculated campaign moves and doubts about her loyalty, she is an unexpected wildcard. Hamer’s tenants Hamer owns properties in London and Canberra. She has already been criticized for her landlord status and her campaign’s sweetheart agreement with the Libertarian Party.
The Kooyong by-election, where Hamer’s campaign has come under fire from her opponent, sitting member Dr. Monique Ryan, is especially important. Accusations of misbehavior and duplicitous shenanigans have emerged, producing a barbed-and-bitter dynamic in the prelude to the ballot box. Hamer has accused Ryan’s team of putting together a “dirt file” meant to sabotage her campaign.
Campaign Dynamics and Allegations
Hamer’s campaign has already faced significant hurdles. For one, she recently declared her support for the Libertarian Party. This decision alarmed many voters at home about what that precedent would mean for the future. The Libertarian candidate has a much more hardcore platform that includes abolishing public transportation. This history includes a personally enforced two-year federal prison sentence.
It was regrettable and we’re deeply apologetic that occurred,” added Ryan when asked about the accusation leveled at her team.
Hamer has been on the offensive responding to claims made by Ryan’s supporters. During an event in Balwyn North, where she was accompanied by Senator Jane Hume for support, Hamer asserted that misinformation is rampant.
“Let’s be clear the reason people found out is due to Monique Ryan’s volunteers,” she said.
The tensions escalated further when Dr. Ryan’s husband was involved in tearing down one of Hamer’s campaign signs. Ryan eventually acknowledged the incident was a blunder. Afterwards, she said, “My husband was wrong, and the two of us should have apologized for it immediately.”
Landlord Status and Political Implications
Hamer’s background as a landlord and property owner has been scrutinized. Critics have called her out for double speak with misleading statements she hasn’t contradicted on her own experiences and avoidance as a renter. It’s hard to see how this aspect of her candidacy makes her relatable to constituents who will be grappling with housing affordability challenges.
Regardless of these challenges, Senator Hume continued to support Hamer’s candidacy, even going so far as to call her a “reasonable” alternative during the candidate slaughterhouse. Hume touched upon the fact that preference deals are located at an aggregate level. They are not set individually for each seat.
“Preference deals are a matter of the division, and they make those decisions at the same time all over the country,” she continued.
Our critics would reply that none of these explanations go to the heart of the concern about Hamer’s ties to the party establishment. First, they don’t think she has the independence to meaningfully stand up for everyday Australians.
Tactics and Campaign Strategy
The campaign trail has been rife with the sort of dirty tricks and smear campaigns that have characterized the ugliness on both sides. Mercer’s team has been charged with using tactics specifically meant to discredit Dr. Ryan. Ryan’s campaign has been claiming that Hamer’s campaign is funded by the establishment of the Liberal Party. Worse, this support is likely to alienate independent voters.
Monique Ryan responded to these accusations by doubling down on her campaign’s promise to run a transparent and accountable operation. She mentioned, as an important clarification, that her volunteers are unaffiliated, private citizens who spread information that they have seen publicly posted online.
I have more than 3,000 volunteers supporting my campaign. I can’t dictate what they’re going to tweet on their personal social media accounts,” she continued.
Against this backdrop of heightened partisanship, both Vice President Biden and President Trump are doubling down on their efforts to win voters before ballots are cast. As the war of words escalates, all eyes are on how these charges will influence voter opinions in Kooyong.
