Here are answers to some of the most common questions about Ben’s campaign. These questions focus broadly on his campaign including questions about funding, preferences, and how Ben was selected as the independent for Flinders. If you have a question about Ben's policies, please take a look under 'What I Stand For' where there is plenty of information.
If you still have further questions, please email [email protected].
Ben has spent most of his career working in community support, helping people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship. Most recently, he was the CEO of the Mornington Community Support Centre. In that role, he advocated at all levels of government for better community housing and raised vital funds for the centre. It became clear to him that politicians—regardless of party—were often forced to put their party’s priorities above the needs of their communities.
Ben had never considered entering politics, but after being approached by the Independent for Flinders group, he decided to apply to be considered as an independent candidate. He saw more and more young families coming to the centre in crisis and realised he could either keep fundraising forever—or try to fix the problem at its source in Canberra. Ben was selected as the successful candidate.
Yes. Flinders has been a safe seat for decades, meaning major parties often ignore the community’s needs because they know they’ll continue to be elected. Electing an independent forces them to listen. Independents have a strong track record of delivering results, such as:
If there is a hung parliament, Ben will have even greater negotiating power to deliver for the Peninsula. The choice is clear: a backbencher who follows party orders, or an independent who fights for the community.
Independents provide stronger, more accountable representation for their communities. Here’s why:
Electing an independent means electing someone who is answerable only to the people—not party bosses or corporate donors.
Ben is not making any preference deals with other candidates. He believes voters should determine how their vote flows by numbering all the boxes on the ballot according to their own preferences.
His ‘how to vote’ card will simply show a “1” next to Ben Smith and remind voters that they must number all the boxes for their vote to count. He will not provide recommendations for the remaining numbers.
If no party wins a clear majority, Ben will only provide confidence and supply under arrangements that guarantee his ability to assess each bill on its merits and vote as an independent. His sole accountability is to the people of Flinders and he will not compromise on that. It’s impossible to predict which party would accept those terms—that’s a question for them.
Find out more about confidence and supply arrangements.
Ben’s campaign is powered by over 400 local donors (and growing every day!) who contribute to ensure the campaign remains strong. He has also received funding from Climate 200, a public crowdfunding platform supported by 40,000 donors. Climate 200 exists to level the playing field for community independents and only supports candidates chosen by local community groups who commit to:
As an independent, Ben is accountable only to the people of Flinders—not to a party or vested interests.
No. Ben is not a Mormon and has no connection to the Mormon Church. That claim is disinformation being spread by opponents.
Personally, Ben is a Christian. The church he grew up in is a very progressive one that not only supports women in leadership but actively pursues this end. The church was the first in Australia to conduct same-sex marriages and affirms LGBTIQ+ rights. The church also affirms the rights of women to make decisions about their bodies.
Yes. Ben is firmly pro-choice. He supports a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body and will back legislation that protects this right and improves access to reproductive healthcare.
No. Ben is not proposing any changes to these policies. As an independent, if such legislation were introduced, he would consult with his community before deciding how to vote.