FORMER Cottesloe mayor and high-profile Perth lawyer John Hammond wants Labor pre-selection for a by-election caused by Perth MHR Tim Hammond’s shock departure from politics.
The two men are not related.
“I have always wanted to be a member of parliament and represent people on issues that impact on their life, medicine, law, education and taxes,” John Hammond told Community News after lodging his application with the Labor Party five minutes before the 3pm deadline on Thursday.
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READ NOWLast week, Community News was first to report his interest in the seat after Labor high-flyer Tim Hammond (43) prompted a by-election when he said he would resign from the seat he held for only two years to spend more time with his three young children.
John Hammond is unaligned to any ALP faction, but he is now pitted against ALP state secretary Patrick Gorman as the preferred candidate for the marginal-Labor seat held by 3.3 per cent.
Announcing his run for pre-selection, Mr Hammond said while decisions were often made about who gets chosen, it “was time for someone else to get it” and he did not believe Mr Gorman had total support.
Mr Hammond is a Cottesloe resident and was mayor of that town’s council from 1997-2003 when he quit for an unsuccessful run at the Lord Mayorship of Perth.
He said he was not running just to ensure Mr Gorman was unopposed, and Perth residents faced a lack of opportunities and needed a voice which said they were not getting good enough deals.
He said he had made the decision alone, without talking to party bosses, and he would divest himself of any second citizenship entitlements as soon as he was pre-selected.
The Greens have selected 33-year-old City of Perth sustainability officer and CBD resident Caroline Perks in the seat that runs north-east from West Perth to Bassendean.
“I am a renter, and was student, and understand how difficult it is to get into the housing market,” Ms Perks said.
She said her doorknocking had shown the electorate was concerned about the effects of climate change through urban heating, bushfire or flood, while others wanted sustainable development and industry near local shopping hubs.
“It’s really important to look at other places like New Zealand where a small group of Green MPs are doing things for the whole of the country,” she said, when asked why anyone would vote for a small party that could not make a government.
The Liberal Party is consulting its local membership for a possible candidate, and the GST protest WA Party has said it will run a candidate.
Mr Gorman has been contacted for comment.
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