Amelia Hamer | |
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Personal details | |
Born | 1993 (age 30–31) |
Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Alma mater | University of Oxford |
Website | ameliahamer |
Amelia Hamer is a candidate in the upcoming Australian federal election as the Liberal Party candidate in the Division of Kooyong. Hamer won the Liberal Party preselection with a first round majority of 233 votes, with her nearest opponent achieving 59 votes.[1] Hamer, who studied philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Oxford, has worked in financial trading and venture capital. She was also an adviser to the then Minister for Financial Services, Jane Hume before becoming an executive at the financial tech company, Airwallex.[2]
Hamer attended St Catherine's School, Toorak and achieved dux of her year.[3] Hamer is the grand-niece of the 39th Premier of Victoria, Rupert Hamer,[4] the granddaughter of Senator David Hamer, and her great-grandfather, Sir William McPherson, was the 31st Premier of Victoria.[5]
In 2013, Hamer began studying philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Oxford.[6] In that year, during the Oxford Union's annual elections, "sexist, misogynistic, and "demean[ing]" memes depicting Hamer were circulated by her electoral opponents.[7][8]
In September 2014, Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) members removed Hamer as the editor of the student newspaper, The Oxford Student, after writing and publishing an article entitled "Oxford Union ‘rape victim knew her claim was false". Hamer was accused by Caitlin Tickell from OUSU's WomCam for "victim blaming... and peddl[ing] rape myth[s]" Hamer defended her actions by stating that she was not "attempting to "shame" a supposed rape victim... but [published the article] because the information was in the public interest."[9]