Ben Franklin was elected President of the New South Wales Legislative Council on 9 May 2023 and has served in the NSW Parliament since 2015.

A tireless advocate for the people of NSW, his focus throughout his time in Parliament has been to ensure access to employment, cultural enrichment, and educational opportunities to everyone across the state regardless of economic, social, physical or geographic circumstances.

Ben resides on Bundjalung Country on the Far North Coast of NSW and grew up in Barham on the Murray River, giving him an appreciation of the needs of regional communities and an understanding of the barriers imposed by distance. Ben’s parents were teachers, instilling in him a keen sense of fairness and a belief in the importance of education.

Prior to his role as President, Ben served as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Regional Youth and Minister for Tourism.

Additionally, Ben has served as Deputy Government Whip in the Legislative Council, Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy and Northern NSW, and Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and the Arts.

Before entering the Legislative Council as a member of The Nationals, Ben held various positions in both the government and not-for-profit sectors.

Ben’s experience is underpinned by his deep understanding of the inner workings of the Parliament and passionate belief in the important role that democracy and its institutions play to improve the lives of people across NSW.