About

I’m Ben Small, your Federal Member for Forrest.

I grew up right here in Bunbury and fell in love with the sea, spending my childhood on Koombana Bay. The South West is my home, and it’s shaped who I am.

I’m a proud graduate of the Australian Maritime College at the University of Tasmania, where I trained for the career that would take me into the maritime oil and gas sector, overseeing marine services for a global energy company.

But I’ve always believed that hard work means more when you give back. That’s why I served for 10 years as a volunteer ambulance officer and became WA’s youngest rescue skipper with Bunbury Sea Rescue.

In 2017, I followed my dream of running my own business and opened Small’s Bar in Eaton. It wasn’t just a venue—it was about showcasing our region’s incredible produce and creating jobs for 30 people, including those living with disabilities.

I also had the privilege of serving as a Senator for Western Australia. During that time, I worked to give our state a stronger voice in Canberra, advocating for fairer GST arrangements, backing in small businesses, and standing up for WA jobs and industries. That experience gave me the national perspective I now bring to representing Forrest.

Today, my local plan for Forrest is clear: championing critical infrastructure upgrades, boosting tourism, supporting export opportunities for our farmers and local businesses, and taking real action to ease the strain on our housing market.

I understand the challenges our region faces, and I’ll continue to fight for practical solutions that deliver real results for the people of Forrest.