Ben Hood

Ben Hood (born 1980) is an Australian politician who was appointed a member of the South Australian Legislative Council in February 2023, representing the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia. He replaced retiring member Stephen Wade.

Ben Hood
  • Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional South Australia
Assumed office
7 March 2023
PremierPeter Malinauskas
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Robin Hood

1980
Naracoorte
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia (SA)
SpouseEllen Hood
RelationsLucy Hood (sister)

Early life and career

Hood grew up in Naracoorte.[1] He is a director of Hello Friday, a web and branding development agency.[2] He co-created the children's character George the Farmer. A talented musician and illustrator, Hood wrote and performed all George the Farmer’s music and illustrated and designed all the educational brand’s picture books.[1] In June 2018, he was named one of InDaily's inaugural "40 under 40".[1]

Political career

Hood has served as a councillor and deputy mayor for the City of Mount Gambier and as an inaugural board member of Landscape SA Limestone Coast.[3] He stood as the Liberal candidate for the House of Assembly seat of Mount Gambier in the 2022 election[4][5] but was unsuccessful against incumbent independent Troy Bell.[6]

Hood was one of two candidates to fill the Liberal vacancy in the Legislative Council after the early retirement of former Health Minister Stephen Wade. Opposition leader David Speirs pushed for a woman to fill the spot, and reportedly told Hood "he did not have his support, would have limited promotion and warned of a strategic blunder" by not continuing to seek a seat in the lower house.[7] Hood is aligned with the Right faction of the party.[6]

In August 2023, Hood was elevated to the Speirs Liberal opposition front bench as Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional South Australia.

Personal life

Hood is married to Ellen and they have three children. He lives in Mount Gambier.[8] His sister Lucy is the Labor member for Adelaide.[5]

References
  1. "40 Under 40 winner of the day: Ben Hood". In Daily. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  2. Lewis, Todd (19 August 2021). "Liberal Party selects councillor Ben Hood to take on Independent Troy Bell for seat of Mount Gambier". ABC News. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. "Hood secures top spot". The Border Watch. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. "South Australian Election 2022: Adelaide". The Poll Bludger. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. "Siblings Ben and Lucy Hood set to make SA political history". AdelaideNow. 4 March 2022.
  6. Richards, Stephanie (19 January 2023). "Liberal field narrows in battle for Wade's seat". In Daily. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. Abraham, Matthew (27 January 2023). "Frankly speaking, things are looking ominous for David Speirs". In Daily. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  8. "Ben Hood". George the Farmer.
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