Ben Franklin (Australian politician)

The Honourable Ben Franklin MLC
President of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 May 2023
Preceded by	Matthew Mason-Cox
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 May 2019
In office 28 March 2015 – 1 March 2019
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
In office 21 December 2021 – 28 March 2023
Preceded by	Don Harwin
Succeeded by	David Harris
Minister for the Arts
In office 21 December 2021 – 28 March 2023
Preceded by	Don Harwin
Succeeded by	John Graham
Minister for Regional Youth
In office 21 December 2021 – 28 March 2023
Preceded by	Bronnie Taylor
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Minister for Tourism
In office 5 August 2022 – 28 March 2023
Preceded by	Stuart Ayres (Tourism and Sport)
Succeeded by	John Graham
Personal details
Born	1972 or 1973 (age 51–52)
Political party	The Nationals
Other political affiliations	Liberal (until c. 2008)
Residence	Byron Bay

Benjamin Cameron Franklin (born 1972/1973^[1]) is an Australian politician. He served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from March 2015 until March 2019, representing the National Party.^[2] He resigned in 2019 to contest the Legislative Assembly seat of Ballina, but was defeated by the incumbent Greens MP Tamara Smith.^[3] He was subsequently appointed in May 2019 to fill the casual vacancy caused by his own resignation.^[4] Franklin served as the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Minister for the Arts, and the Minister for Regional Youth in the second Perrottet ministry from December 2021^[5] to March 2023.

Prior to his election, Franklin served as the State Director of the Nationals between 2008 and 2015.^[6]