Ben Franklin (Australian politician)

For other uses, see Ben Franklin (disambiguation).
The Honourable
Ben Franklin
MLC
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 March 2015
Personal details
Born 1974 (age 40–41)
Political party The Nationals
Residence Kirribilli

Benjamin Cameron "Ben" Franklin (born circa 1974[1]), an Australian politician, has been a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2015, representing the National Party. Prior to his election, Franklin served as the State Director of the Nationals between 2008 and 2015.[2]

Early life and career

The child of two school teachers,[3] Franklin grew up in Barham, New South Wales,and Coal Point NSW before being awarded an academic scholarship to study at Cranbrook School in Sydney.[1] Franklin's great, great uncle was Banjo Paterson.[4]

Franklin studied Law at the University of Sydney and attended the residential college of St Paul's.

A former member of the Liberal Party and President of the NSW Young Liberals (2001-2002),[1] Franklin was the Communications Director for UNICEF Australia before being appointed State Director of the Nationals in 2008.[3]

Preselected to the leading position on the Nationals ticket while a resident of Kirribilli in Sydney's lower north shore,[4] Franklin vowed to move to the NSW North Coast on his election.[1][4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 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. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ben Franklin: Candidate for the Legislative Council". National Party of Australia. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 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.