Ben Franklin (Australian politician)

Benjamin Cameron Franklin (born c. 1974[1]), an Australian politician, has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 2015, representing the National Party.[2] Prior to his election, Franklin served as the State Director of the Nationals between 2008 and 2015.[3] He resigned in 2019 to contest the Legislative Assembly seat of Ballina, but was defeated by the incumbent Greens MP Tamara Smith.[4] He was subsequently appointed in May 2019 to fill the casual vacancy caused by his own resignation.[5]

For other uses, see Ben Franklin (disambiguation).

The Honourable

Ben Franklin

MLC
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Assumed office
8 May 2019
In office
28 March 2015 – 1 March 2019
Personal details
Born1974 (age 46–47)
Political partyThe Nationals
ResidenceByron Bay

Early life

The child of two school teachers,[6] Franklin grew up in Barham and Coal Point before being awarded an academic scholarship to study at Cranbrook School in Sydney.[1] Franklin's great, great uncle was Banjo Paterson.[7]

Franklin studied a BA at the University of Sydney and resided at St Paul's College during his studies.

A former member of the Liberal Party and President of the NSW Young Liberals (2001-2002).[1]

Career

Franklin was the Communications Director for UNICEF Australia before being appointed State Director of the Nationals in 2008, where he served his election to the NSW Legislative Council in March 2015.[6]

Preselected to the leading position on the Nationals ticket while a resident of Kirribilli in Sydney's lower north shore,[7] Franklin vowed to move to the NSW North Coast on his election.[1][7]

In January 2017, Franklin was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy and Northern NSW.

He currently lives in Byron Bay.

References
  1. Wood, Alicia (7 April 2014). "Bushwhacked by a city boy: Liberal MP Ben Franklin will move to regional NSW". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. "The Hon. (Ben) Benjamin Cameron Franklin, MLC". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  3. Patty, Anna (16 February 2014). "Politicians to battle it out for a spot in the upper house". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. "Ballina: NSW State Election Results 2019". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  5. "Ben Franklin returns to the NSW upper house". Echonetdaily. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  6. "Ben Franklin: Candidate for the Legislative Council". National Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  7. Murphy, Damien (10 March 2015). "National Party's Ben Franklin cites Banjo Paterson heritage in defence of going bush". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
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