Ben Small (politician)

Benjamin John Small (born 11 June 1988)[2] is an Australian businessman and a Senator for Western Australia representing the Liberal Party since November 2020.[3] He was chosen by the Liberal Party to fill a casual vacancy following Mathias Cormann's resignation.[4]

Senator

Ben Small
Senator for Western Australia
Assumed office
25 November 2020
Preceded byMathias Cormann
Personal details
Born (1988-06-11) 11 June 1988
Political partyLiberal
Alma materUniversity of Tasmania (BAppSci)
University of Canberra (MBA)[1]
OccupationLogistician
Businessman

Early life and career

Small grew up in Goldfields–Esperance and later in Bunbury. His father was a mine manager.[5]

Small went to Adam Road Primary School and then Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School.[5] In 2009, he graduated from the Australian Maritime College (University of Tasmania) with an Advanced Diploma of Applied Science (Nautical Science), followed by a Bachelor of Applied Science in Maritime Operations in 2012. He later obtained his MBA from the University of Canberra.[1]

Since 2009, Small volunteered as an ambulance driver and then as a volunteer development officer with St John Ambulance Australia. From 2005 until 2015, Ben was also a skipper, trainee officer and committee member of Bunbury Sea Rescue.[5]

After graduating with his Bachelor of Applied Science, Small worked as a chief officer and operations manager in Farstad Shipping and then as a marine operations manager at Woodside Energy.[1][5] He has also co-owned Small's Bar in Eaton since 2017.[6]

Small was the vice-president of the Liberal Party's Bunbury branch from 2013 to 2015, and president from 2015 to 2017.[2] He challenged incumbent Forrest member of parliament Nola Marino for her preselection at the 2016 federal election but failed.[7] He later served as president of the party's Forrest division from 2017 until his Senate nomination.[7][5]

Senate

Finance minister Mathias Cormann announced his retirement from politics in July 2020, and resigned from the Senate on 6 November 2020, triggering a casual vacancy.[8] Small was selected by the Liberal Party's Western Australian branch at a meeting the following day on 7 November 2020,[4] and was appointed by the Parliament of Western Australia on 25 November 2020.[2][5] He was sworn in on 30 November 2020.[9]

Small was named as part of the Senate Committee on Job Security on 10 December 2020.[2]

References
  1. "Ben Small". Business News. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  2. "Senator Ben Small". Australian Parliament House. 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. "Small picked for Senate". Business News. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. Osborne, Paul (7 November 2020). "WA Liberals choose Cormann replacement". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  5. "Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) - Joint Sitting of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia. 25 November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  6. Godde, Callum (9 November 2020). "Cormann replacement Small ready for Senate". The Courier. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  7. Morris, Sophie (3 April 2016). "Liberal upstart looks to unseat Nola Marino". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. Hayne, Jordan (4 July 2020). "Finance Minister Mathias Cormann to quit politics". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  9. Coughlan, Matt (30 November 2020). "Small fills Cormann's big shoes in Senate". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
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