Grant Chapman


Hedley Grant Pearson Chapman is an Australian politician.
Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Chapman was educated at Prince Alfred College and the University of Adelaide and worked as a marketing executive in the oil industry and a self-employed management consultant prior to gaining Liberal Party pre-selection for the federal Division of Kingston in the House of Representatives leading to his election in Malcolm Fraser's 1975 landslide win. In the 1980 election, Chapman held Kingston by 358 votes and served in the House of Representatives until his defeat at the 1983 federal election.
Chapman expressed opposition to the development of the Franklin River Dam. After visiting the area he said: "It is a superb area. The visit reinforced my view that it would be a travesty if the dam went ahead."
He unsuccessfully contested the state electorate of Fisher at the 1985 state election, but returned to federal politics in 1987 as a member of the Australian Senate representing South Australia.
He was defeated at the 2007 election when he was third on the SA Liberal ticket but only two Liberal candidates were elected.
In September 2010, Chapman was elected unopposed as President of the Liberal Party of Australia and was re-elected unopposed in 2011 and 2012.

Personal life

Chapman is the joint-owner of the long-term lease over Wallerberdina Station, which is one of three properties short-listed for the prospective development of nuclear waste storage facility in South Australia.