Kym Richardson

Kym Charles Richardson (born 16 March 1958) is an Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives between 2004 and 2007, 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. Investigated for unethical behaviour while a Police Officer he was precluded from receiving the National Medal, however Kym is now the recipient of the Police Service Medal (a SAPOL award). 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 Australian rules football 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 former 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 commentators, 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, however no Federal Government funding has been forthcoming.

Richardson's Labor opponent for the 2007 federal election was psychologist Amanda Rishworth, who previously stood for the State seat of Fisher. A January 2007 poll in the The Advertiser showed that on two party preferred terms, Rishworth was ahead in the seat of Kingston by 56% to 44%.^[2] A July poll in the same newspaper reported that Rishworth was ahead 57% to 43%.^[3] A mid-election October 2007 poll in The Advertiser had the margin at 56% to 44% and Richardson's primary vote at 34%.^[4]

In October 2007, Richardson attracted controversy for pulling out of a debate on industrial relations with his Labor rival, bringing in Industrial relations minister Joe Hockey to debate the candidate instead.^[5][6]

In the 2007 federal election, Kym Richardson was defeated by his Labor opponent Amanda Rishworth.

Richardson was preselected to contest the state seat of Mawson at the 2010 election; however he decided to step down amid revelations he faces possible criminal charges of impersonating a police officer.^[7][8] On the 14th January 2010 a pre trial hearing into the matter was heard in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.^[9] It was revealed in the Pre Trial Hearing that the impersonation was related to an attempt to dissuade a witness from testifying in an assault case against Richardson's son. The Telephone Call was traced to Parliament House where Richardson was serving as a Politician at the time.

Kym Richardson is now a Real Estate Agent with Elders Real Estate in South Australia.^[10]

References