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Ben Small

Benjamin John Small (born 11 June 1988) is an Australian politician who has served as the Liberal Party member for the Division of Forrest in the House of Representatives since the 2025 federal election. Previously, he represented Western Australia as a Senator from 2020 until resigning in April 2022 after discovering he held dual citizenship with New Zealand, which violated Section 44 of the Australian Constitution disqualifying members of parliament with foreign allegiances. Small's career prior to politics centered on the maritime sector, where he held roles including deck officer cadet and marine manager for energy companies, supported by qualifications in nautical science, marine operations, and an MBA in innovation and leadership; he also owned and operated Small's Bar in Eaton, employing local workers including those with disabilities. Committed to community service, Small volunteered as an ambulance officer for a decade and became Western Australia's youngest rescue skipper with Bunbury Sea Rescue. Within the Liberal Party, he held leadership positions such as president of the Forrest Division and vice-president of the federal organisation, reflecting his grassroots involvement in regional advocacy for infrastructure, tourism, and economic opportunities in Western Australia's southwest.

Early life and career

Upbringing in

Ben Small was born on 11 June 1988 in , , to an Australian citizen mother and a father born in who held Australian at the time of his birth. Although born in , Small grew up in Bunbury, a regional city approximately 170 kilometres south of the state capital, where he spent much of his childhood on Koombana Bay and developed an early affinity for maritime activities. Raised in what he has described as a typical family, Small was instilled with values emphasizing hard work and community involvement from a young age. His formative years in Bunbury, a coastal hub known for its beaches and proximity to the , shaped his lifelong interest in the sea, which later influenced his professional path in maritime industries.

Pre-political professional roles

Prior to entering , Ben Small pursued a career in the sector, specializing in oil and gas operations. He graduated from the Australian Maritime College in 2009 with qualifications in nautical science, operations, and business management. Small's professional experience centered on services, where he advanced to overseeing operations for a global energy company in the offshore oil and gas industry. This role involved managing and support in Australia's resource-heavy coastal environment, reflecting his early interest in seafaring developed during childhood in Bunbury. In addition to his primary career, Small served as a volunteer ambulance officer with for approximately a decade, contributing to in regional .

Involvement in the Liberal Party

Local branch leadership

Small assumed the role of president of the 's Forrest Division in in 2017, serving until 2020 when he was selected for Senate nomination. In this capacity, he led the division covering the federal electorate of Forrest, which encompasses regional areas including Bunbury and surrounding districts. Prior to his presidency, Small had been active in local party branches from 2015 to 2017, contributing as a campaigner and booth captain in Western Australian Liberal operations. His leadership focused on organization amid the party's efforts to maintain support in regional electorates facing competitive Labor challenges.

Federal party positions

Ben Small held the position of Vice-President of the Federal from 2023 to 2025. In this role, he contributed to the national leadership of the party during a period encompassing the lead-up to the 2025 federal election, following his resignation from the in 2022. The vice-presidency involves supporting the federal president's oversight of party operations, policy development, and campaign strategies across . No other federal organizational positions for Small are documented in official parliamentary records prior to his entry into federal in 2020.

Senate tenure

Appointment to the Senate

Ben Small was selected to fill a in the representing following the resignation of on 6 November 2020. Cormann's departure created the vacancy under section 15 of the , which requires state parliaments to appoint a replacement chosen by a joint sitting until the next federal election. The of nominated Small, a former president of its Bunbury branch, as their preferred candidate to succeed Cormann, emphasizing his local ties and party involvement. On 25 November 2020, the convened a joint sitting and unanimously chose Small as the replacement, adhering to constitutional requirements that the appointee be from the same as the vacating senator. Small was sworn in as Senator for on 30 November 2020, marking the beginning of his initial term, which was set to expire at the 2022 federal election. This positioned him as the 98th Senator for since federation.

Legislative activities

Small served on the Select Committee on from December 2020 to March 2022, contributing to an inquiry into factors affecting stability, including casualization, practices, and regulatory impacts on hiring. He also participated as a member of the Standing Committee on and from May 2021 to April 2022, reviewing and references related to vocational training, workplace relations, and skills development. In addition to these roles, Small held positions on joint committees addressing migration policy (Joint Standing Committee on Migration, May 2021–April 2022), human rights oversight (Joint Statutory Committee on Human Rights, May 2021–April 2022), projects (Joint Statutory Committee on Public Works, May 2021–April 2022), and initiatives (Joint Select Committee on Road Safety, March 2021–March 2022). These assignments focused on scrutinizing proposed laws and government expenditures, with Small aligning votes consistently with the majority during his tenure. Small did not introduce or co-sponsor any private member's bills during his Senate service. He voiced opposition to the Mitochondrial Disease Bill 2021 (Maeve's Law), which sought to permit certain embryo modifications for research, arguing on ethical grounds against provisions that could expand destructive embryo use beyond existing prohibitions. The bill advanced despite resistance from Small and other Western Australian senators. In committee examinations of the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021, he supported provisions aimed at providing employer flexibility during economic recovery post-COVID-19. His contributions emphasized Western Australia's resource sector needs, small business viability, and regulatory burdens on employment.

Resignation over dual citizenship

Ben Small resigned from the Australian on April 15, 2022, after discovering he held dual citizenship with , which rendered him ineligible under Section 44(i) of the Australian Constitution prohibiting members of parliament from owing allegiance to a foreign power. Small, who had been appointed to the on February 13, 2020, to fill a casual vacancy following Mathias Cormann's resignation, stated that he had only recently become aware of his New Zealand citizenship, inherited through his heritage, and had renounced it prior to the announcement but acknowledged the breach during his tenure. The resignation marked Small as the 15th parliamentarian affected by Section 44 dual citizenship disqualifications since 2017, a series of cases stemming from the High Court's interpretation in Re Canavan (2017) that even unknowing foreign citizenship allegiance suffices for ineligibility. Small emphasized in his statement that the issue arose despite due diligence checks by the Liberal Party, highlighting ongoing challenges in verifying ancestral citizenship claims under New Zealand's jus soli principles prior to 1974 reforms. His departure triggered a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives to appoint a replacement, with the Western Australian Liberal Party nominating Slade Brockman to fill the vacancy.

Transition to the House of Representatives

Preselection for Forrest

Following the retirement announcement of long-serving Liberal MP Nola Marino in December 2023, the Liberal Party's division initiated the preselection process for the of Forrest, a encompassing regional areas south of including Bunbury, where Small had local business and party ties. Nominations opened in late January 2024, with former Senator Ben Small emerging as the sole nominee by January 31, positioning him as the frontrunner due to his prior parliamentary experience and regional roots. The nomination period closed on February 2, 2024, confirming Small as the only at that stage and setting the stage for his uncontested endorsement barring late challenges. However, on February 21, 2024, the party permitted Bunbury businesswoman Gabi Ghasseb to join the ballot after she submitted her application 20 minutes past the deadline, prompting a brief contested vote among local delegates. Small's established profile, including his Senate service from 2020 to 2024 and leadership roles in the party's Bunbury branch, favored him in the internal contest. By March 2024, Small was regarded as the presumptive nominee, and he was formally endorsed as the candidate for Forrest in the lead-up to the 2025 federal election, reflecting the party's preference for experienced regional advocates amid broader concerns over gender balance in outcomes. This selection marked Small's transition from the , following his in 2024 over dual citizenship issues, to contesting a winnable seat aligned with his South West focus.

2025 federal election victory

Ben Small, the candidate for the Division of Forrest in , secured victory in the 2025 Australian federal election held on May 3, 2025. Running to succeed retiring Liberal MP Nola Marino, who had held the seat since 2007, Small claimed victory on election night amid a tight contest. In first-preference votes, Small received 31,011 votes, equating to 31.18% of the primary vote, ahead of Labor's Tabitha Dowding with 22,423 votes (22.55%) and Sue Chapman with 18,206 votes (18.31%). On a two-candidate-preferred basis against Labor, Small prevailed with 51,952 votes (52.24%) to Dowding's 47,505 (47.76%), securing a margin of 4,447 votes. This result reflected a of 1.95% toward Labor from the 2022 election, narrowing the margin in the seat, which had been redistributed to approximately 4.2% prior to the poll. The win occurred against the backdrop of a national for the Australian Labor Party, which secured 94 seats in the . In , however, Liberal retention of Forrest bucked broader trends, with Small expressing confidence despite pre-election assessments from opponents labeling the race as too close to call. His success was attributed in part to the electorate's regional character, encompassing rural and coastal areas in the state's South West, where local issues such as and resonated with voters. The Australian Electoral Commission formally declared the result on May 23, 2025.

Maiden speech and initial contributions

Ben Small delivered his maiden speech in the House of Representatives on 23 July 2025, reflecting on his transition from the Senate three years prior and his roots in , where his family had lived for generations. Educated at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, he highlighted his business experience and volunteer work, emphasizing practical governance over ideological pursuits. In the speech, Small advocated for small and family-owned businesses as the backbone of , noting that most employers are tradies, operators, retailers, or farmers whose relationships have built the nation. He called for reducing and addressing high costs to support and job creation in regional areas like Forrest. On , he stressed the need for affordable and reliable supplies to bolster industries such as and . Regarding , he urged sustainable, managed policies to align with infrastructure capacity and community needs. Small pledged to represent Forrest's interests by prioritizing infrastructure improvements and voicing regional concerns in , committing to fight for hardworking Australians. The optimistic and pragmatic tone underscored his focus on community-driven solutions. Following the , Small contributed to early parliamentary debates, including on 1 September 2025, where he addressed the duty to support vulnerable citizens, stating that few responsibilities in the chamber are more serious. This intervention highlighted his emphasis on welfare protections amid broader legislative discussions.

Controversies and public incidents

Interruption during discussion

On 15 March 2021, during an panel discussion addressing the March 4 Justice protests—nationwide demonstrations by women against , assault allegations, and perceived inadequate responses within Australian federal parliament—Liberal Senator Ben Small interrupted Labor MP Kate Thwaites while she emphasized the importance of respect for women in parliamentary workplaces. Thwaites directly addressed Small, stating, "Ben, we're talking about respect for women in this workplace, are you going to talk over me?", underscoring the perceived irony of the interruption amid the topic's focus on gender dynamics and listening to women's concerns. The exchange, captured on video and widely circulated, prompted criticism in reports, which framed it as illustrative of challenges in male-female interactions during discussions of women's s, though Small did not issue a public apology or detailed response in immediate aftermath coverage. The incident occurred shortly after the protests, which drew over 100,000 participants across on 15 March 2021, including events outside Parliament House in attended by then-Prime Minister . No formal parliamentary sanction followed, and Small continued his Senate duties without further reference to the event in official records.

Dual citizenship eligibility challenge

In April 2022, Ben Small's eligibility to serve as a senator was challenged upon discovery that he held dual citizenship with , acquired by descent through his New Zealand-born father, in violation of section 44(i) of the Australian prohibiting members of parliament from owing allegiance to a foreign power. The issue surfaced during routine pre-selection vetting by officials ahead of the May 2022 federal election, revealing Small had been unaware of his foreign citizenship status despite checks upon his initial appointment to fill a in November 2020. Small resigned from the effective April 15, 2022, becoming the latest parliamentarian affected by the ongoing section 44 disqualifications, which had already prompted over a dozen resignations or disqualifications since 2017. Small promptly applied to renounce his New Zealand citizenship, receiving formal confirmation from New Zealand authorities on April 14, 2022, that he possessed no remaining rights, entitlements, or eligibility under their citizenship laws. This renunciation resolved the constitutional barrier, enabling his continued candidacy for the Senate ticket in at the 2022 election, where he placed third and was not elected. Unlike high-profile cases such as those resolved by the in Re Canavan (2017), Small's matter did not require judicial determination, as the voluntary resignation and verified renunciation sufficed to affirm future eligibility under precedents emphasizing effective divestment of foreign ties. The episode drew criticism for highlighting rigidities in section 44, with some commentators and political opponents arguing it unfairly penalizes individuals with inadvertent ancestral foreign ties, potentially excluding capable candidates without genuine allegiance to foreign states. Small maintained the oversight stemmed from incomplete family documentation and emphasized his exclusive loyalty to , supported by his and business background in . No evidence emerged of intentional concealment, distinguishing his case from prior controversies involving delayed disclosures. Ahead of the 2025 federal election, in which Small successfully contested and won the House seat of Forrest, rival campaigns invoked the prior dual citizenship matter as evidence of lapses in , framing it as a lingering question of parliamentary fitness despite the absence of any formal legal petition to the Court of Disputed Returns or . This political reframing persisted into his early House tenure, underscoring efforts to undermine his credibility, though constitutional experts affirmed that prior renunciations, once validated, preclude ongoing disqualification absent new foreign allegiances.

Comments on anti-immigration protests

In late August 2025, anti-immigration rallies organized under the "March for Australia" banner took place in multiple cities, including and , where participants protested high levels of mass citing strains on , , and services. These events drew crowds numbering in the hundreds to thousands per location and included a mix of ordinary citizens voicing demographic and economic concerns alongside fringe elements, such as a neo-Nazi speaker in . On September 3, 2025, Small publicly expressed support for the underlying sentiments of the protests, stating he was "heartened" by the large turnout of opposing mass immigration, which he viewed as a reflection of growing public awareness of unsustainable . He explicitly condemned the involvement of extremists, including neo-Nazis who attended some rallies, emphasizing that such elements did not represent the core message of the demonstrations focused on policy critiques rather than ideology. Small's remarks aligned with his broader advocacy for stricter immigration controls to prioritize regional infrastructure capacity, as articulated in his parliamentary positions, though they prompted backlash from critics who argued the protests inherently amplified far-right rhetoric despite organizers' claims of addressing non-racial issues like net overseas migration exceeding 500,000 annually in recent years. No evidence emerged of Small endorsing or participating in the rallies themselves, and his comments framed the events as a legitimate exercise of free speech on policy matters.

Disputes over offshore wind farm proposals

Ben Small has been a prominent critic of the Australian federal government's proposed offshore wind zone in Geographe Bay, a 4,000-square-kilometre area off the south-west coast of adjacent to his Forrest electorate. The zone, declared in 2024, aims to support large-scale development to meet targets, but Small argues it threatens local fisheries, routes, , and visual amenity without adequate economic benefits or reliable consultation. Community opposition has been significant, with over 6,000 members in a dedicated group protesting the project and large public meetings, such as one attended by 300 ratepayers in , highlighting unresolved concerns about environmental impacts and power price hikes. In July 2024, as candidate for Forrest, Small called for a inquiry into the offshore zone consultation process, urging it to convene sessions in the South West to address local grievances directly rather than relying on remote or insufficient engagements. He contended that the federal Department of , , the and had failed to answer key questions from constituents on scale—potentially up to 15 megawatts each—and cumulative effects on , including Geographe Bay's role as a "whale migration superhighway." This stance positioned him in opposition to Labor's renewable push, which he described as ideologically driven and dismissive of regional realities, citing international precedents like cost overruns leading to cancellations of U.S. projects, the of Sweden's largest offshore wind initiative, and job cuts at manufacturers amid falling demand. Tensions escalated during the 2025 federal election , where Small clashed with independent candidate Sue Chapman over the proposal; he criticized her neutrality as insufficient, vowing on his to "save Geographe Bay" by blocking the , while accusing Labor and Greens opponents of prioritizing distant goals over local livelihoods. In a September 1, 2025, address, Small reiterated these disputes, decrying the government's "top-down" approach and lack of transparency on decommissioning costs and grid reliability, arguing that offshore wind's intermittency would exacerbate energy insecurity rather than resolve it. Small's position drew further scrutiny following a self-funded September 2025 visit to Denmark's offshore wind facilities, invited by the Danish embassy despite his opposition. Upon return, he maintained that Denmark's successes—built on cooperative ownership, flat terrain, and smaller-scale deployments—do not translate to Geographe Bay's steeper , stronger currents, and proximity to sensitive ecosystems, reinforcing his call for project suspension pending thorough, community-led assessments. These efforts have amplified divides between proponents viewing the zone as essential for and critics, including Small, who prioritize empirical risks over modeled benefits, though federal plans proceed amid ongoing legal and public challenges.

Political positions

Immigration and border control

Ben Small has advocated for reduced levels of net to address infrastructure strains, particularly shortages in . In a September 2025 statement, he criticized the Labor government for surpassing its own migration intake projections by around 600,000 people over recent years, arguing this has exacerbated the national without corresponding in capacity. Small has voiced for with high volumes, describing himself as "heartened" by nationwide protests against held over the weekend of 30-31, , which drew thousands in cities including . He emphasized that such demonstrations reflect legitimate community frustrations over rapid population growth outpacing services, while explicitly condemning the participation of neo-Nazis or other extremists, stating there is "no place" for violence or hatred in the debate. As a parliamentarian, Small aligns with the Coalition's emphasis on robust border protection measures, including the continuation of policies to deter unauthorized boat arrivals, though his parliamentary voting record on specific processing bills remains limited following his 2025 election to the . During his brief earlier tenure as a Western Australian Senator from 2021 to 2022, he served on the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, where discussions included scrutiny of immigration system integrity.

Economic and regional development policies

Small has advocated for government policies that foster business growth by reducing regulatory burdens and energy costs, which he identified as key impediments to small businesses in regional areas during his maiden speech to Parliament on July 23, 2025. He emphasized that creating conducive conditions for enterprises to expand, hire, and thrive is essential for economic vitality in electorates like Forrest. On housing affordability, Small campaigned on commitments to implement practical measures alleviating pressure in the local market, including easing construction constraints to increase supply amid rising demand in South West Western Australia. Despite these pledges, disclosures revealed his personal ownership of multiple properties, raising questions about alignment between advocacy and holdings, though no policy contradictions were substantiated beyond campaign rhetoric. For in Forrest, Small prioritizes infrastructure enhancements, such as upgrades to and utilities, to support expansion and agricultural exports, sectors central to the electorate's reliant on primary industries and coastal . He has critiqued targets as "economically catastrophic" for resource-dependent regions, arguing they undermine job creation and investment without viable alternatives, aligning with broader skepticism toward policies imposing high compliance costs on rural economies. These positions reflect a focus on and market-driven growth over centralized interventions, though implementation details remain tied to platforms as of October 2025.

Energy and environmental stances

Ben Small has advocated for abandoning the target by 2050, describing its pursuit as "economically catastrophic" for , particularly in resource-dependent regions like . On October 5, 2025, he joined fellow MPs in publicly urging the to drop the commitment, arguing it imposes undue burdens on industries and households without adequate alternatives. Small has emphasized the need for a practical climate policy that balances environmental goals with economic viability, criticizing net zero as a slogan rather than a feasible plan. In , Small supports as a reliable, low-emissions option to meet baseload demands, aligning with the Liberal Party's proposals for small modular reactors at sites like in . He has opposed measures to end government investment in fossil fuels, voting consistently against such in parliamentary divisions. This stance reflects his prioritization of affordable and stable supplies for regional economies, including continued support for gas and where they sustain jobs and infrastructure. On , Small has led opposition to the federal Labor government's proposed zone in Geographe Bay, citing risks to marine ecosystems, , migration patterns, and coastal in his electorate of Forrest. Since 2025, he has highlighted local community resistance and pledged to protect the South West coastline from industrial-scale s, which he argues could span up to 15 megawatts each and dominate scenic bays. In September 2025, Small participated in a Danish to examine operations, focusing on scale and practices, but reaffirmed his rejection of the Geographe Bay project as incompatible with local environmental and economic priorities.

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