Garth Hamilton
Garth Russell Hamilton (born 5 March 1979) is an Australian politician who is a member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Groom. He was elected in the 2020 Groom by-election, following the retirement of John McVeigh. He is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) and sits with the Liberal Party in federal parliament. Early life and career. Hamilton grew up in South East Queensland and his father was a concreter. Hamilton attended Ipswich Grammar School before studying engineering at the University of Queensland. He is an engineer who has worked  around the world on various large infrastructure projects. Prior to his election, Hamilton worked in the mining industry. He previously served as a campaign manager for state MP Trevor Watts and wrote opinion columns for Spectator Australia. Politics. John McVeigh, the member for Groom, resigned from federal politics in September 2020 to care for his wife, who was battling major health issues. The resignation triggered a preselection contest between 7 candidates to contest the safe LNP seat. The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison had wanted a woman to be preselected, and the Queensland Resources Council had backed both Toowoomba councillor Rebecca  Vonhoff and Sara Hales who were both considered front runners. Hamilton won the preselection for the seat in October 2020. Suggestions were made that this was indicative of a "woman problem" in the party, however the Government Services Minister, Stuart Robert responded that the preselection was the choice of the members of the local branch, and that anyone was able to join the party and thereby vote for the preselection. During the by-election in November 2020, Hamilton defeated three other candidates and was elected with a -3% swing. He was sworn in in the House of Representatives on 3  December 2020. Political positions. Hamilton is a member of the National Right faction of the Liberal Party. Hamilton has expressed a number of positions as an opinion columnist for The Spectator. In one article that was removed by the Spectator after Hamilton's preselection, he argued that many of the problems that exist in the Aboriginal community, including incarceration rates, could be helped if the fathers were more present in the lives of the children. Personal life. , Hamilton lives in Toowoomba with his wife Louise and three children, Adeline, Everard and Claude.