Truck driver will run as independent at 2026 state election

A Callington truck driver and former youth worker has announced he will contest the seat of Hammond at the next state election.

Independent candidate Lucas Hope will run against independent Airlie Keen, Labor's Simone Bailey and current Liberal Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick.

Mr Hope attended Murray Bridge South Primary School and Mannum Community College, later studying at Macquarie University in Sydney.

“Hammond deserves straight talk and steady results,” Hope said.

“These are practical goals to make life safer and easier.”

Mr Hope's policy goals include the following.

Road safety

At Monarto, the goal is to convert the “intersection of doom” into a roundabout to reduce crashes and delays. The intersection is located at the intersection of Old Princes Highway and Ferries McDonald Road. At Strathalbyn, the goal is to introduce slow-vehicle turn-out lanes on key approaches to improve safety and traffic flow.

Health

For Mannum, the goal is to secure paid paramedics to complement and support local volunteers, improving reliability of emergency care. In tandem, Hope will advocate a staged, needs-based upgrade of Murray Bridge Hospital, pursuing a realistic funding pathway aligned with local demand.

Child protection

Hopeline Phones (no relation to his surname), aims to install fixed, tamper-proof phones in every South Australian state care home, giving children a direct, safe line to raise concerns and get help. The aim is to give vulnerable children access to Kids Helpline and other services which they don’t currently have access too.

"I carry a deep-seated belief in accountability and justice, and a quiet but firm intolerance for corruption, complacency and excuses."

"My campaign isn’t about attacking others.

"It’s about contributing something meaningful, with the independence to speak up and the focus to follow through," he said.

The election will be held on March 21, 2026.

• More information: www.lucashope.com.au/about.