imported>Julipero at 22:42, 10 June 2025

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{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Vickie Chapman
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Chapman2018 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Chapman in 2018
| order =
| office = Deputy Premier of South Australia
| term_start = 19 March 2018
| term_end = 22 November 2021
| premier = [[Steven Marshall]]
| predecessor = [[John Rau]]
| successor = [[Dan van Holst Pellekaan]]
| office1 = [[Attorney-General of South Australia]]
| term_start1 = 19 March 2018
| term_end1 = 21 March 2022
| premier1 = [[Steven Marshall]]
| predecessor1 = [[John Rau]]
| successor1 = [[Kyam Maher]]
| order2 = [[South Australian Liberal Party|Deputy Leader of the South Australian <br/>Liberal Party]]
| term_start2 = 4 February 2013
| term_end2 = 25 November 2021
| leader2 = [[Steven Marshall]]
| predecessor2 = [[Steven Marshall]]
| successor2 = [[Dan van Holst Pellekaan]]
| term_start3 = 30 March 2006
| term_end3 = 4 July 2009
| leader3 = [[Iain Evans]]<br />[[Martin Hamilton-Smith]]
| predecessor3 = [[Iain Evans]]
| successor3 = [[Isobel Redmond]]
| constituency_MP4 = [[Electoral district of Bragg|Bragg]]
| parliament4 = South Australian
| term_start4 = {{start date|2002|2|9|df=y}}
| term_end4 = {{end date|2022|5|31|df=y}}
| predecessor4 = [[Graham Ingerson]]
| successor4 = [[Jack Batty]]
| birthname = Vickie Ann Chapman
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Kangaroo Island]], South Australia, Australia
| nationality = Australian
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)|Liberal Party of Australia (SA)]]
| spouse =
| relations = [[Ted Chapman]] (father)
| alma_mater =
| education = [[University of Adelaide]]
| profession = Barrister
| website = [https://www.vickiechapman.com.au vickiechapman.com.au]
| termend = 22 November 2021
}}
'''Vickie Ann Chapman''' is a former Australian politician, representing the [[South Australian House of Assembly]] seat of [[Electoral district of Bragg|Bragg]] for the [[Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)|South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia]] between the [[2002 South Australian state election|2002 election]] and May 2022. Chapman served as the [[Deputy Premier of South Australia]] and [[Attorney-General of South Australia|Attorney-General]] between 19 March 2018 and 22 November 2021 in the [[Marshall Ministry|Marshall government]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://governmentgazette.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/public/documents/gazette/2018/March/2018_018.pdf|title=The South Australian Government Gazette, 19 March 2018, No. 18, Supplementary Gazette|access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> She was the first woman to hold either post.

Chapman has previously served as deputy leader of the Liberal Party from 2006 to 2009, and became deputy leader again in 2013. In that capacity, she served as Deputy [[Leader of the Opposition (South Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]] between 30 March 2006 and 4 July 2009, and again between 4 February 2013 and 19 March 2018. She was also 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.

==Early life==
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2021}}
Chapman was born on [[Kangaroo Island]]. One of seven children, Chapman attended the Kangaroo Island [[Parndana Area School]], and, following the death of her mother, at age 12 she later attended [[Pembroke School, Adelaide|Pembroke School]] in [[Adelaide]]. She studied a law degree at the [[University of Adelaide]] and graduated in 1979 as a barrister.

Chapman's father, [[Ted Chapman|Ted]], was a member of the [[Liberal and Country League]] and then the [[Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)|South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia]] in the [[South Australian House of Assembly]]. A Liberal moderate, Ted was a member of the [[Steele Hall (Australian politician)|Steele Hall]]-led [[Liberal Movement (Australia)|Liberal Movement]] faction in the 1970s and Agriculture Minister in the [[David Tonkin]] government. As a young girl, Chapman assisted her father in Liberal campaigns for office.

==Parliament==
===1990s===
As the Liberal Party state president from 1992 to 1995, Chapman attempted to win Liberal preselection for the federal [[division of Barker]] in 1998. Her husband, David, died in 2001 and she moved from [[Wayville, South Australia|Wayville]] to [[Tusmore, South Australia|Tusmore]] with her two children. She again tried to win preselection, this time for the safest Liberal seat in the metropolitan area, [[Electoral district of Bragg|Bragg]], located in Adelaide's wealthy eastern suburbs.

===2000s===
When sitting member [[Graham Ingerson]] resigned, Chapman contested preselection against Liberal minister [[Michael Armitage (politician)|Michael Armitage]], who was seeking to move from his marginal seat of [[Electoral district of Adelaide|Adelaide]]. Chapman easily gained preselection and retained Bragg with a slight 0.4-point [[Two-party-preferred vote|two-party]] [[Swing (Australian politics)|swing]] at the [[2002 South Australian state election|2002 state election]] when the Liberals lost government. However, she won 61.9 percent of the primary vote, easily enough to retain the seat outright.

Chapman immediately joined the front bench, assuming the shadow portfolios of Education and Children's Services. She was soon touted by some quarters, within her party and in the media, as a future Liberal leader. In other quarters, however, Chapman was seen as a continuation of the factional battles that have long plagued the SA Liberals.

The Liberals were cut down to only 15 seats at the [[2006 South Australian state election|2006 election]] landslide. 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. Chapman was elected as deputy Liberal leader, and hence Deputy Leader of the Opposition, in an unexpected joint ticket with factional rival [[Iain Evans]]. Strong backing was received from federal [[Division of Sturt|Sturt]] MP [[Christopher Pyne]], a longtime factional ally of Chapman, as well as another prominent boss of the SA Liberals' moderate faction, former Premier [[Dean Brown]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/south-australias-10-most-poisonous-political-feuds/story-fni6uo1m-1226925898128|title=South Australia's 10 most poisonous political feuds: The Advertiser 21 May 2014|accessdate=18 April 2023}}</ref> She retained the deputy's post when [[Martin Hamilton-Smith]] ousted Evans as leader in 2007.

Hamilton-Smith called a leadership and deputy leadership spill for 4 July 2009. Chapman ran against Hamilton-Smith for the leadership, but received only 10 votes, against Hamilton-Smith's 11, with Evans abstaining. Conservative [[Isobel Redmond]] was elected to the deputy leadership to replace Chapman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Emmerson|first=Russell|title=Second Liberal Party vote narrows|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/second-liberal-party-vote-narrows/story-e6frf7jo-1225745928080|newspaper=The Advertiser|date=8 July 2009}}</ref> Hamilton-Smith called another leadership spill to take place on 8 July 2009, in an attempt to gain a more decisive mandate, but two days prior to the spill, he announced he would not run. Chapman again ran for the leadership but received only 9 votes, against Redmond's 13. [[Steven Griffiths]] was elected deputy leader 8 votes to 6 for [[Mitch Williams (politician)|Mitch Williams]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kelton|first=Greg|title=Isobel Redmond wins South Australia Liberals leadership|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/isobel-redmond-wins-south-australia-liberals-leadership/story-e6frf7jo-1225747255084|newspaper=The Advertiser|date=9 July 2009}}</ref>

===2010s===
Despite having attempted to previously oust Hamilton-Smith as leader and having attempted to later defeat Redmond in a leadership ballot, Chapman voted for Hamilton-Smith in his successful bid as deputy leader on 31 March 2010 in a vote held after the third consecutive Liberal loss at the [[2010 South Australian state election|2010 election]] where Chapman gained a substantial 9.1-point two-party swing. Voting for Hamilton-Smith as deputy meant not voting for Evans.<ref>[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/libs-crunch-numbers-ahead-of-spill/story-e6frea6u-1225846958945 Libs Crunch Numbers Ahead Of Spill] ''The Advertiser'' {{dead link|date=April 2023}}</ref> 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 "Chapman Could Challenge" posters hung beneath many of the Liberal "Redmond is Ready" posters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/liberal-partys-lament-vicki-cost-us-victory/story-e6frea83-1225846383710|title=Martin Hamilton-Smith blames Vickie Chapman for Liberals' SA State Election 2010 loss|work=The Advertiser|date=27 March 2010|access-date=18 April 2023}}</ref>

Chapman was reappointed deputy opposition leader on 4 February 2013, and chose to announce she would rule out challenging new leader [[Steven Marshall]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/vickie-chapman-likely-to-contest-deputy-liberal-leadership-against-iain-evans/story-e6frg6n6-1226567416567 | title=New state Liberals leader Steven Marshall safe from Vickie Chapman challenge | newspaper=The Australian | date=4 February 2013 | access-date=4 February 2013 | first1=Daniel | last1=Wills | first2=Lauren | last2=Novak | first3=Brad | last3=Crouch }}</ref>

Upon the fourth consecutive Liberal loss at the [[2014 South Australian state election|2014 election]], Chapman suffered a 1.5-point two-party swing but still retained Bragg with a comfortably safe 68.7 percent two-party vote. After the Liberal party won the election at the [[2018 South Australian state election|2018 election]], she was sworn in as [[Deputy Premier of South Australia]].

===2020s===
Chapman was additionally appointed Minister for Planning and Local Government on 29 July 2020.<ref>{{Gazette SA|title=Governor's Instruments|issue=64|page=4090|date=29 July 2020|url=https://governmentgazette.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/public/documents/gazette/2020/July/2020_064.pdf|access-date=20 March 2022}}</ref> Chapman lost a vote of non-confidence as Deputy Premier in the South Australian Parliament on 18 November 2021 after a parliamentary inquiry found her [[conflict of interest]] as Minister for Planning and Local Government and recommended for her to be found guilty of [[contempt of parliament]] for misleading the house.<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 November 2021|title=SA parliament passes vote of no confidence in Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman|work=[[ABC News (Australia)]]|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-18/vickie-chapman-vote-of-no-confidence/100631558|url-status=live|access-date=18 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118071229/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-18/vickie-chapman-vote-of-no-confidence/100631558|archive-date=18 November 2021}}</ref> On 22 November 2021, she resigned as Deputy Premier and Minister for Planning and Local Government, and stepped down as Attorney-General while officially still holding the role and remaining in cabinet.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dayman|first=Isabel|date=22 November 2021|title=Vickie Chapman steps down as SA Deputy Premier and aside from ministerial roles pending ombudsman investigation|work=[[ABC News (Australia)]]|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-22/sa-deputy-premier-vickie-chapman-steps-down-amid-investigation/100638580|url-status=live|access-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121235837/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-22/sa-deputy-premier-vickie-chapman-steps-down-amid-investigation/100638580|archive-date=21 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indaily.com.au/news/2021/11/23/acting-a-g-to-be-sworn-in-as-chapman-stays-in-ministry/|title=Acting A-G to be sworn in as Chapman stays in cabinet|publisher=InDaily|date=23 November 2021}}</ref> On 3 May 2022, the Ombudsman's Report into the allegations exonerated Chapman of all wrongdoing, finding she had no conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-03/sa-ombudsman-report-into-vickie-chapman-kangaroo-island-decision/101034536 | title=Ombudsman clears former SA deputy premier of conflict of interest in port decision | newspaper=ABC News | date=3 May 2022 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/sa/2022/guide/brag |title=Bragg |website=ABC News |date=19 March 2022}}</ref> A month after the election, Chapman announced her intent to resign from parliament. She officially resigned on 31 May 2022, with her successor to be elected in a [[2022 Bragg state by-election|by-election]] on 2 July 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boisvert |first=Eugene |date=5 May 2022 |title=Former SA deputy premier Vickie Chapman set to stay in parliament as Labor declines to push her out |work=[[ABC News (Australia)]] |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-05/former-sa-deputy-premier-set-to-stay-in-parliament/101042272 |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515024904/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-05/former-sa-deputy-premier-set-to-stay-in-parliament/101042272 |archive-date=15 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dornin |first=Tim |date=1 June 2022 |title=SA by-election in Bragg set for July 2 |work=[[The Advocate (Tasmania)|The Advocate]] |agency=[[Australian Associated Press]] |url=https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/7762625/sa-by-election-in-bragg-set-for-july-2/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601114351/https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/7762625/sa-by-election-in-bragg-set-for-july-2/ |archive-date=1 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite SA-parl |pid=1804 |name=Hon Vickie Chapman |former=yes |access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
One of her children is Channel 7 reporter Alex Hart.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vickiechapman.com.au/Portals/0/14-07-02%20GRESTE,%20MR%20PETER.pdf |title=GRESTE, MR PETER |work=HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY |date=2 July 2014 |page=1064 |access-date=31 March 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303125228/http://vickiechapman.com.au/Portals/0/14-07-02%20GRESTE,%20MR%20PETER.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.vickiechapman.com.au/ Official website: vickiechapman.com.au]

==Further reading==
*The Liberal leadership; The Advertiser (Adelaide). 12 October 2005.
*Vickie's island in the suburbs. Sunday Mail (Adelaide). 2 January 2005.
*Vickie Chapman: The woman most likely. The Advertiser (Adelaide). 26 October 2002.
*Chapman in the front line. The Advertiser (Adelaide). 25 April 2002.
*Libs line up in battle for blue-ribbon seat of Bragg. The Advertiser (Adelaide) 15 January 2001.

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-sa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Graham Ingerson]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=Member for [[Electoral district of Bragg|Bragg]] | years=2002–2022}}
{{s-aft |after=[[Jack Batty]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Iain Evans]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy [[Leader of the Opposition (South Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]] in South Australia|years=2006–2009}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Isobel Redmond]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Steven Marshall]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy [[Leader of the Opposition (South Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]] in South Australia|years=2013–2018}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Susan Close]]}}
|-
|-
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[John Rau]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Premier of South Australia]]|years=2018–2021}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Dan van Holst Pellekaan]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[Attorney-General of South Australia]]|years=2018–2022}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Kyam Maher]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Steven Marshall]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Leader of the [[Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)|Liberal Party of Australia<br />(South Australian Division)]]|years=2013–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Dan van Holst Pellekaan]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapman, Vickie}}
[[Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of South Australia]]
[[Category:Members of the South Australian House of Assembly]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Adelaide]]
[[Category:People educated at Pembroke School, Adelaide]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Adelaide Law School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Kangaroo Island, South Australia]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian women politicians]]
[[Category:Women members of the South Australian House of Assembly]]
[[Category:Attorneys-general of South Australia]]
[[Category:Deputy premiers of South Australia]]

Vickie Chapman - Revision history

imported>Julipero at 22:42, 10 June 2025