Kym Richardson

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Kym Charles Richardson (born March 16, 1958) is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 2004, representing the South Australian electorate of Kingston.

Richardson joined the police force at a young age, serving in the elite Star Force unit for thirteen years and taking a special interest in youth programs. His efforts in this area saw him rewarded with the Police Service Medal. Richardson shared his police career with a number of other activities, only resigning from the force upon entering Federal Parliament in 2004.

While actively involved in police duties, he also played for the West Torrens club, and spent several years coaching local teams. After retiring from football, he moved into sports management. His clients included international cricketer Jason Gillespie and football player Byron Pickett. As a Police Officer he was charged with six counts of promoting a pyramid marketing scheme. However, no evidence was tendered in the case and all charges were dropped.[1].

Richardson was a friend of state MP Robert Brokenshire, and had been approached to stand as a Liberal candidate at the 1998 election, but had declined for family reasons. In 2003, he was again approached, and this time accepted the offer to nominate for the seat of Kingston. There was some speculation that former Australian Football League player Nigel Smart was also being encouraged to nominate, but this did not eventuate. Richardson won preselection for the Kingston with broad factional support.

Kingston was held by the incumbent Australian Labor Party MP, Assistant Shadow Treasurer David Cox, by a narrow margin. Polling in the lead-up to the election had suggested that Cox was likely hold the seat. Several commenators, such as Antony Green, agreed with this conclusion. However, on election night, there was a swing to Richardson and the Liberal Party. After eleven days of counting Richardson overtook Cox on postal and absentee votes. Richardson defeated Cox by 119 votes after preferences.

Richardson is socially conservative. In the abortion debate that emerged in 2005, arguing that abortion is unacceptable in all cases apart from where rape is involved. He has largely concentrated on the issue of road safety, a focus of much of his career with the police force. Richardson has pushed for a number of reforms to decrease road deaths including raising the driving age to 17, limiting the engine capacity of cars driven by young drivers and doubling demerit points for speeding or drunken drivers. He has also repeatedly advocated the extension of the Noarlunga Centre railway line to Sellicks Beach.

He gained publicity early in his term for a successful trial in keeping his office open to 9pm on Thursdays in order to more easily respond to constituents working regular office hours. The success of the trail led to suggestions that some other MPs may follow suit.