Locally-based Nationals MLC Ben Franklin is embroiled with infighting within his own party, according to SMH (Nine) and independent publisher Crikey.
Attempts to confirm the accuracy of the SMH story with Franklin were unsuccessful, however he did make a statement on his Facebook page on Monday night.
In 2019, Franklin ran against incumbent MP Tamara Smith (Greens) for the seat of Ballina on a large ‘pork barrelling’ platform of promises, yet lost.
NSW deputy premier Paul Toole was dumped by the party Monday night, just one month after he was re-elected to the role. Dubbo MP, Dugald Saunders, is his replacement.
Regarding Franklin, SMH reports, ‘The NSW Nationals are threatening to refer one of their own members to the corruption watchdog for considering a lucrative promotion in the new parliament despite senior party figures proposing another of their own MPs for the same job’.
The report claims Franklin ‘sparked fury in his party room’ for considering the plum job of upper house president, despite another Nationals MP, Wes Fang, also considering the job.
‘Upper house presidential perks include a driver, staff and a salary on par with a government minister’.
SMH says Franklin is a close friend to Minns, and is also ‘the godfather to one of Minns’s sons’.
Jobs for the boys?
Premier Chris Minns confirmed with SMH he would nominate Franklin for the job, which would potentially give Labor a majority in the evenly balanced upper house.
SMH reports, ‘Minns on Wednesday denied some Nationals’ suggestions that his personal friendship with Franklin constituted a case of “jobs for the boys”, pointing out Labor had previously supported Mason-Cox for upper house president in the last term of parliament, and independent Greg Piper for lower house speaker’.
Franklin told his social media followers that he will nominate for the position of President of the Legislative Council, and as such, will recuse himself from the Nationals party room and the Joint Coalition party room, ‘to ensure the chairing of parliamentary sessions is conducted free of partisan bias’.
He says other MPs have recused themselves from their respective parties when appointed to the role.
Franklin said he intends to remain a member of the National Party. ‘I’ve been a devoted member of The Nationals for the past 15 years, serving as state director for seven years, and then as a Member of the Legislative Council since 2015’.
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