Australian Politician Legally Changes Name to 'Aussie Trump'

Ben Dawkins, a controversial WA lawmaker, adopts the name Austin Trump in a protest against the Labor government ahead of the March state election.

Ben Dawkins, a Western Australian politician, officially changed his name to Austin 'Aussie' Trump, citing admiration for Donald Trump's politics and opposition to 'leftist nonsense.'
Once a Labor Party member, Dawkins was expelled in 2023 after pleading guilty to multiple breaches of a domestic violence restraining order involving his former partner.
He briefly joined the right-leaning One Nation party but was removed from their ticket in 2024, prompting his return to independent politics.
The name change is seen by analysts as a publicity tactic aimed at energizing a small voter base, with only 2-3% of votes needed to secure a seat in WA's upper house.
Local reactions to the name change have been mixed, with some calling it attention-seeking, while others see it as a clever campaign strategy.