The Limestone Coast’s representation in State Parliament has further increased with the appointment of Mount Gambier City Council Deputy Mayor Ben Hood to the Upper House.
Mr Hood, 42, on Friday night was elected to fill the casual vacancy in the Legislative Council created by the retirement of long-term Liberal Stephen Wade.
He joins Labor’s Primary Industries, Regional Development and Forest Industries Minister Clare Scriven, from Port MacDonnell, in the Upper House, while Independent Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell sits in the Lower House.
Mr Hood is the co-creator of popular children’s series George the Farmer, which inspires kids to learn about agriculture and the origin of their food.
He defeated fellow candidate Leah Grantham for the position, with the Liberal Party’s State Council gathering at Norwood Town Hall on Friday night and voting Mr Hood in, 119 votes to 87.
Mr Hood, who grew up on a farming property in the South East and currently lives in Mount Gambier with his wife Elle and their three children, challenged Mr Bell at last year’s State Election.
He nominated for the Upper House vacancy five weeks ago, after Mr Wade announced his resignation after spending the last 16 years in parliament.
“I have spent the past month speaking with and visiting delegates across the state to discuss why I believe I was the right candidate to fill this position for the party,” Mr Hood said.
“On Friday night the State Council gathered, the president welcomed everybody and then the two candidates went out the back, before Leah spoke for five minutes and then had five minutes of questions, then I did same and council voted on who they wanted to elect for the casual vacancy.”
Mr Hood will now be sworn in on March 7 and will serve in the Upper House until the 2026 State Election, where he will need to seek preselection for the position.
“I’m very humbled first and foremost to have received the support of State Council to fill this casual vacancy, it is an honour and a privilege to serve in parliament, particularly representing the regions,” he said.
“I will be living in the regions with my family, I am looking forward to advocating for the regions on issues such as housing affordability, cost of living pressures and of course health services within the regions.
“I will be of course continuing to fight as I have done for radiotherapy services in Mount Gambier, and putting pressure on the Labor government to ensure that this service is delivered for our region.
“As an MLC I also represent all South Australians, and I want to ensure that young people especially know the Liberal Party is the party of aspiration and of opportunity.
“As a small business owner, the proud husband of a dedicated midwife, and a father of a young regional family I will be fighting for small business owners, health care workers and families in parliament.”
Mr Hood said he would be resigning from council immediately.
“I have sincerely enjoyed the privilege of service as a councillor over the last five years and as deputy mayor and will miss the debate and solid work we have done in council but know that in my new role as an MLC I will be able to continue to advocate for our region and indeed all regions in SA,” he said.
“I am extremely excited that our region now has an additional representative in State Parliament who will be fighting every day for our region.
“Our region has the state’s second biggest city and punches way above its weight in its economic output, we deserve significant representation on North Terrace.
“It’s a great opportunity for our region to be represented.”
Liberal Party Leader David Speirs and State Liberal Party President Rowan Mumford congratulated Mr Hood on the result.
Mr Speirs said the addition of Mr Hood to the renewed and fresh-faced Liberal team would help the party continue its renewed focus on the regions.
“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,” Mr Speirs said.
“We warmly welcome Ben Hood to the team and will be leaning on his knowledge of the South East and rural areas because we know there are serious issues in the regions that must be addressed.”
Mr Mumford said Mr Hood had been welcomed into the role.
“Ben Hood was an excellent candidate that members of the Liberal Party’s State Council chose to represent them in the Upper House, and we wish him the best of luck on his new endeavour,” he said.
