Philip Benwell

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Philip Gordon James Benwell MBE is an advocate of Constitutional monarchy in Australia and has served as the National Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League since its founding in 1993. [1] [2]

Benwell worked as a banker in the late 1960s until the mid 1970s. [3] For his contribution to the Australian banking community Benwell was honoured on the 1976 Queen’s Birthday Honours list with as a Member of the Order of the British Empire. [4] In 1978 Benwell was charged on 19 warrants for embezzlement and false pretences allegedly committed between 1977 and 1978. [3] Prior to arrest he fled to Sri Lanka before being arrested in Colombo on a warrant issued by the High Court of Sri Lanka at the request of the Australian Government. He was imprisoned in Sri Lanka awaiting extradition to Australia before voluntarily returning to Australia in the early 1990's but didn't face any charges. He later expressed regret for his actions stating that he "was naive" had "made a mistake".

During his time as a banker he joined the Liberal Party of Australia. In 1973 he ran for the Electoral district of Heathcote in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, coming second with 28.6% of the primary vote. In 1974 he ran for the Hughes in the Parliament of Australia, coming second with 31.4% of the vote. [3] [2]

Benwell has promoted and argued in favour of the preservation of the Monarchy of Australia in various capacities, including speaking at Conservative Constitution Committee and the Cross Benches of the House of Lords, [2] supporting the No Vote during the 1999 Republic Referendum. [1]

Selected works

Benwell has authored a number of books on Australian constitutional history and the Monarchy of Australia. [5]

Bibliography

  1. 1 2 "1st Philip Benwell State of the Constitution". Australian Monarchist League . 23 June 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Philip Benwell". Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Mitchell, Alex (21 August 2005). "Old fraud charges haunt Mr Monarchy". The Age . Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Member of the Order of the British Empire entry for Mr Philip Gordon James BENWELL". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 12 June 1976. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "AML Products". Australian Monarchist League . 3 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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