Background
Hardman was born in Kiama, New South Wales.
Hardman was born in Kiama, New South Wales.
He was educated at Street Peter and Paul Primary School and Street Gregory"s College, Campbelltown.
He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2010, representing the electorate of Seymour. He worked as a steward with the Wagga Wagga Leagues Club from 1982 to 1983, and as a clerk for the Wagga Wagga City Council from 1983 to 1986, before moving to Victoria to study teaching at the University of Ballarat. Hardman was preselected as the Labor candidate for the state seat of Seymour for the 1999 state election.
He increased his majority sharply amidst Labor"s landslide re-election in 2002, and was again easily re-elected in 2006.
He was defeated in 2010.