Mount Gambier’s Ben Hood will replace outgoing Liberal Stephen Wade on the Legislative Council after winning the party’s vote
Ben Hood has defied the wishes of some within the Liberal Party to elect more women by winning the vote to replace outgoing MLC Stephen Wade on the Legislative Council.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Mount Gambier councillor Ben Hood has won the vote to replace retiring Liberal Stephen Wade in the Upper House, setting up a cross-party sibling rivalry in South Australian parliament.
Mr Hood was endorsed by the Liberals 220-member state council to replace the former health minister in the Legislative Council after winning the vote 119-87, beating out party vice-president Leah Grantham, on Friday night.
It was second time lucky for Mr Hood who lost the local south east parliamentary seat for the Liberals to Independent member Troy Bell, at last year’s state election.
His selection comes with its own piece of family history, believed to be the first time state parliament will see two siblings on opposite sides. His sister Lucy Hood is a Labor MP in the lower house.
Mr Hood has always had a desire to enter parliament ranks after sitting as an elected member on the Mount Gambier Council since 2018.
He said he was honoured to win the position.
The South Australian Liberal Party is pleased to announce that Ben Hood has been elected to fill the Legislative Council casual vacancy. pic.twitter.com/D3QVsso42z
— The SA Liberals (@LiberalSAHQ) February 24, 2023
“This is a huge step forward for my community – the people of the South East – to have another voice in South Australia’s parliament to advocated for the regions,” he said.
“I am honoured to represent not only the Liberal Party, but my community as I strive to achieve better outcomes for regional South Australians and look to focus on concerning issues like the skills and housing shortage which is have a huge impact on communities.”
In the lead-up to last year’s election he told The Advertiser his political philosophy is guided by “core” Liberal values.
“It’s just reward for effort, pulling your socks up, getting on with it, owning your mistakes as well, which is a big thing, and just backing yourself and having a crack,” he said.
But his selection has defied efforts by the party to elect more women, which has been one of the focuses of a special Liberal task force.
Opposition Leader David Speirs, who wanted a new woman MP, assembled the 12-member panel – comprising leading female stalwarts, officials and politicians – after the selection of Jack Batty to replace former attorney-general Vickie Chapman in the blue-ribbon eastern suburbs seat of Bragg.
Despite multiples sources suggesting Mr Speirs’ face “droppped to the floor” when Mr Hood was announced, this was later hotly disputed by a number of his allies.
Senior sources denied the claims while various MP’s leapt to his defence.
Party officials argue it already has 60 per cent women in the Upper House compared to Labor’s 33 per cent.
The Liberals currently have a majority of Upper House women including leader Nicola Centofanti, former minister Michelle Lensink, Heidi Girolamo, Laura Curran and Jing Lee.
Mr Speirs said Mr Hood was a welcome addition to a fresh-face Liberal team.
“Regional people deserve regional voices standing up for their needs and I can confidently say Ben Hood will do that for the people of the South East,” he said.