Electoral district of Hammond

Hammond is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Ruby Hammond, the first indigenous woman to stand for the South Australian parliament. It is a large rural electorate, covering 17,133.6km² in the east and south-east of the state and taking in the towns of Karoonda, Karte, Mantung, Mindarie, Monarto, Murray Bridge, Mypolonga, Pinnaroo, Purnong, Strathalbyn, Tailem Bend, Wanbi and Wellington.

Hammond was created in the 1994 redistribution and was first contested at the 1997 state election. As it covers a largely conservative rural area, it was easily won by maverick Liberal Party of Australia member Peter Lewis, who had changed to the new seat. Lewis briefly tried to have the seat renamed in 1998 on the basis that Hammond had few ties to the elctorate, proposing the alternative names of Murray Mallee or, if a ceremonial name was required, Unaipon, in honour of indigenous writer, preacher and inventor David Unaipon. Lewis was expelled from the Liberal Party in 2000, and successfully recontested the seat as an independent at the 2002 election, depriving the party of what would usually be a safe seat. Lewis' second term, however, was embroiled in controversy, and he attempted unsuccessfully to shift to the Legislative Council when it became clear that he had little-to-no chance of retaining his seat at the 2006 election. Hammond subsequently reverted to form at the election, with Liberal candidate Adrian Pederick taking back the seat for the party.

Members for Hammond

External links

* [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/hamm.htm ABC profile for Hammond]
* [http://www.pollbludger.com/sa2006/hammond.htm Poll Bludger profile for Hammond]
* [http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/election2006//maps/images/519.gifState Electoral Office map for Hammond]
* [http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/apps/news/?year=2006&districtSearch=3210 State Electoral Office profile for Hammond]