SA State Election 2026

Simone Bailey is a proud Mannum resident and the Mayor of the Mid Murray Council. She is putting herself forward to be Labor’s candidate for Hammond, driven by her commitment to strong regional representation and fairness for local communities.

Simone first moved to Mannum nearly twenty years ago, drawn to the region after falling in love with it during a visit. Facing the challenges of housing affordability in metropolitan Adelaide, she chose Mannum as the place to build a stable life and raise her family. Since then, she has proudly raised her three children — Jacob, Taleah, and Amity — in the region she calls home, along with her partner Luke.

With a background in accounting, Simone has worked across the Local Government and Aged Care sectors, using her skills to strengthen governance and deliver fair outcomes for vulnerable and regional communities. Her work in Local Government highlighted the importance of community leadership and public service, leading her to stand for Council and later for Mayor. She became the first woman, and the youngest person, to serve as Mayor of the Mid Murray Council.

Simone was sworn in as Mayor the day after the 2022 River Murray flood emergency was declared. Throughout the flood response and recovery, she worked closely with the Malinauskas Labor Government and saw firsthand Labor’s commitment to regional communities — from emergency preparedness to water access, drought support, and long-term recovery. This experience affirmed her belief that Labor delivers for the regions when it matters most.