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Benjamin Robin Hood (born 10 June 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.

Early life and career

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

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. He stood as the Liberal candidate for the House of Assembly seat of Mount Gambier in the 2022 election but was unsuccessful against incumbent independent Troy Bell.

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. Hood is aligned with the Right faction of the party.

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

In late 2024, Hood introduced legislation to ban late-term abortions. On 16 October 2024, The South Australian Legislative Council narrowly voted down the bill, 10 to 9.

Personal life

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

References

1. "Birth notices". The Advertiser. 12 June 1980.
2. ^ "40 Under 40 winner of the day: Ben Hood". In Daily. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
3. 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.
4. "Hood secures top spot". The Border Watch. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
5. "South Australian Election 2022: Adelaide". The Poll Bludger. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
6. ^ "Siblings Ben and Lucy Hood set to make SA political history". AdelaideNow. 4 March 2022.
7. ^ Richards, Stephanie (19 January 2023). "Liberal field narrows in battle for Wade's seat". In Daily. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
8. Abraham, Matthew (27 January 2023). "Frankly speaking, things are looking ominous for David Speirs". In Daily. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
9. "Liberal MP Ben Hood to introduce amendments to SA's current abortion laws". 23 September 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
10. "Supporters of Liberal MP Ben Hood's amendments to SA's abortion laws rally outside Parliament House". 25 September 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
11. "South Australian upper house narrowly votes down late-term abortion law amendments, with controversy between MP's". 17 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
12. "South Australia's upper house narrowly rejects 'Trumpian' bill to wind back abortion care". 17 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
13. "'Extreme' abortion bill narrowly voted down in South Australia". 17 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
14. "Controversial bill to ban late-term abortions in South Australia defeated despite 'shameful' display". 17 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
15. "Ben Hood". George the Farmer.

• Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of South Australia
• 1980 births
• Living people
• 21st-century Australian politicians