West Australian MP legally changes name in ‘political protest’

An independent MP has raised eyebrows after legally changing his name in an effort to secure his seat at the election, taking inspiration from politics abroad.

An MP from Western Australia has legally changed his name to Austin “Aussie” Letts Trump – inspired by the US President Donald Trump – in what he said was a protest against the Labor government.

The independent MP for the South West Region of WA, formerly known as Ben Dawkins, declared the name change by sharing a picture of the official Births, Deaths and Marriages certificate document to social media platform X.

An independent MP has officially changed his name to Austin Trump.

“I’ve launched a political protest against the tyranny and systematic corruption of the Labor government in WA,” he wrote online, signing off with his new nickname “Aussie”.

The name change has also been reflected on the state parliament’s website, listed as “Aussie Trump”.

The independent MP was first a member of the Labor Party but was suspended in 2023 after breaching a family violence restraining order.

He later joined One Nation but failed to secure a preselection spot on the ticket.

The MP said the change was a protest against the ‘tyranny’ of the Labor Party. Picture: X

Speaking to 9News, Mr Trump maintained the name change would help him retain a seat in the upcoming election which will be held on March 8.

“My changes are pretty damn good because I don’t leave anything in the tank,” he told the outlet.

Online, he stated the US President was “unwinding the leftist nonsense”, adding he’d “happily be a small part of that”.

WA Premier Roger Cook slammed the name change, stating it was “simply attention-seeking stuff” in a press conference on Thursday.

“I’m not sure how much lower he can go,” he said.

WA Liberal Party leader Libby Mettam also hit out at the move, calling it “very juvenile”.

Despite making the change to nab a seat at the election, Mr. Trump said he wouldn’t reverse the decision if he failed to win.

Originally published as West Australian MP legally changes name in ‘political protest’