23 Facts About Vickie Chapman

Vickie Ann Chapman is a former Australian politician, representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Bragg for the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia between the 2002 election and May 2022.

Vickie Chapman was the first woman to hold either post.

Vickie Chapman has previously served as deputy leader of the Liberal Party from 2006 to 2009, and became deputy leader again in 2013.

Vickie Chapman was the Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for State Development, having gained the extra portfolio of State Development in a cabinet reshuffle on 13 January 2016.

One of seven children, Vickie Chapman attended the Kangaroo Island Parndana Area School, and, following the death of her mother, at age 12 she later attended Pembroke School in Adelaide.

Vickie Chapman studied a law degree at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1979 as a barrister.

Vickie Chapman's father, Ted, was a member of the Liberal and Country League and then the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia in the South Australian House of Assembly.

Vickie Chapman again tried to win preselection, this time for the safest Liberal seat in the metropolitan area, Bragg, located in Adelaide's wealthy eastern suburbs.

When sitting member Graham Ingerson resigned, Vickie Chapman contested preselection against Liberal minister Michael Armitage, who was seeking to move from his marginal seat of Adelaide.

Vickie Chapman easily gained preselection and retained Bragg with a slight 0.4-point two-party swing at the 2002 state election when the Liberals lost government.

Vickie Chapman immediately joined the front bench, assuming the shadow portfolios of Education and Children's Services.

Vickie Chapman was touted by some quarters, within her party and in the media, as a future Liberal leader.

In other quarters Vickie Chapman was seen as a continuation of the factional battles that have long plagued the SA Liberals.

Vickie Chapman herself suffered a substantial 6.8-point two-party swing, but still retained Bragg with a comfortable majority of 12.6 percent, leaving Bragg as the only safe Liberal seat in Adelaide and one of only four safe Liberal seats statewide.

Vickie Chapman was elected as deputy Liberal leader, and hence Deputy Leader of the Opposition, in an unexpected joint ticket with factional rival Iain Evans.

Vickie Chapman retained the deputy's post when Martin Hamilton-Smith ousted Evans as leader in 2007.

Vickie Chapman ran against Hamilton-Smith for the leadership, but received only 10 votes, against Hamilton-Smith's 11, with Evans abstaining.

Vickie Chapman again ran for the leadership but received only 9 votes, against Redmond's 13.

Vickie Chapman drew headlines in the last week before the 2010 election for not being willing to publicly refuse challenging Redmond for the leadership and faced accusations, particularly by Hamilton-Smith, of derailing the Liberal campaign, with "Vickie Chapman Could Challenge" posters hung beneath many of the Liberal "Redmond is Ready" posters.

Vickie Chapman was reappointed deputy opposition leader on 4 February 2013, and chose to announce she would rule out challenging new leader Steven Marshall.

Vickie Chapman was additionally appointed Minister for Planning and Local Government on 29 July 2020.

Vickie Chapman retained her seat in parliament at the 2022 South Australian state election, despite a swing against her party which resulted in a change of government.

Vickie Chapman officially resigned on 31 May 2022, with her successor to be elected in a by-election on 2 July 2022.