Lawrence Ben
Lawrence Ben | |
|---|---|
| Assistant Minister for Copper, Steel, Critical Metals and Minerals | |
| Assumed office 25 March 2026 | |
| Premier | Peter Malinauskas |
Minister | Tom Koutsantonis |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Member of the South Australian House of Assembly for Enfield | |
| Assumed office 21 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Andrea Michaels |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lawrence Ben 1992 (age 33–34) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Party | Labor |
| Spouse | Emily[a] |
| University of Adelaide (BA), (LLB)(Hons) City University of New York (MA) | |
| Profession | Lawyer Union official |
Lawrence Ben is an Australian politician serving as Assistant Minister for Copper, Steel, Critical Metals and Minerals in the Second Malinauskas ministry. He was elected to represent Enfield in the South Australian House of Assembly at the 2026 South Australian state election, succeeding Andrea Michaels.[2][3][4]
Career
Prior to his election to the Parliament of South Australia, Ben worked as a union official for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), and as the acting political director of the New York City-based Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).[5] He led the RWDSU's campaign efforts for the 2020 United States presidential election and the 2021 Georgia runoff election.[6]
Ben studied a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Adelaide before going on to complete a Master of Arts at City University of New York (CUNY). While at CUNY, Lawrence was a recipient of the USS Ernesto Malave Merit Scholarship and was a founding member of the CUNY SLU Student Union, serving as the inaugural treasurer.[6][7]
He also served as the principal economic adviser to Premier Peter Malinauskas,[8] with Malinauskas crediting Ben for playing an important role in saving the Whyalla Steelworks.[9] He was also a research fellow at progressive policy thinktank The McKell Institute.[6]
Ben has been involved in the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees in South Australia, serving as the secretary and committee member for The Association of Ukrainians in South Australia.[10][11][1]
Notes
- ^ Ben's wife is Emily Farrell, fellow University of Adelaide law graduate and daughter of Labor Senator for South Australia, Don Farrell[1]
References
- ^ a b Hill, Aden (4 February 2026). "Liberals slam Labor over safe seat picks of Lawrence Ben, James Agness, David Wilkins and Meagan Spencer". News Corporation. Adelaide Now. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ "Two well-known SA Labor Ministers dropped from Cabinet". InDaily. InDaily SA. 25 March 2026. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ "Labor caucus chooses new cabinet ministers as Liberals pledge election review". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ Briggs, Casey (21 March 2026). "Enfield - SA Election 2026". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ Cranston, Matthew (11 December 2022). "This 30-year-old Aussie is driving a US union resurgence". Nine Entertainment Co. Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Alumni - Lawrence Ben". www.cuny.edu. City University of New York. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ "The SLU Student Union". CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. City University of New York. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ "Lawrence Ben". SA Labor. Australian Labor Party (State of South Australia). Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ Emeck, Natasha (31 January 2026). "Peter Malinauskas' top economic adviser Lawrence Ben to run in Enfield for Labor after Andrea Michaels quits". News Corporation. Adelaide Now. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ "Association of Ukrainians in South Australia Inc". Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Australian Government. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ^ "Management Committee". Association of Ukrainians in South Australia Inc. Retrieved 28 March 2026.