# Tammy Franks > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tammy_Franks > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tammy_Franks.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Franks > Source revision: 1356870774 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Australian politician The Honourable Tammy Franks Member of the South Australian Legislative Council In office 20 March 2010 – 20 March 2026 Preceded by David Winderlich Succeeded by Melanie Selwood Personal details Born Tammy Anne Franks July 1968 (age 57–58) Party Independent (since 2025) Other political affiliations SA Greens (2006–2025) Website TammyFranks.org.au **Tammy Anne Franks** ([née](/source/Birth_name#Maiden_and_married_names) **Jennings**; born July 1968) is an Australian politician who served in the [South Australian Legislative Council](/source/South_Australian_Legislative_Council) for two terms from [2010](/source/2010_South_Australian_state_election) to [2026](/source/2026_South_Australian_state_election). Elected as a [South Australian Green](/source/SA_Greens), she resigned from the party in 2025 and sat as an [Independent](/source/Independent_politicians_in_Australia) until the end of the term in 2026. [1] Franks failed in an attempt to be elected as an Independent at the [2026 state election](/source/2026_South_Australian_state_election). ## Early life Born in [Dubbo](/source/Dubbo) and raised largely in seaside suburban [Sydney](/source/Sydney), Franks completed her final year of high school at [Parafield Gardens](/source/Parafield_Gardens) before attending the [University of South Australia](/source/University_of_South_Australia) where she studied sociology, Australian Studies and Community Arts. Franks became heavily involved in university politics, media, and activism, campaigning against the closure of her [Salisbury](/source/Salisbury%2C_South_Australia) Campus of the [University of South Australia](/source/University_of_South_Australia), and was elected State President of the [National Union of Students](/source/National_Union_of_Students_(Australia)).[2] ## Career Then-prime minister [Paul Keating](/source/Paul_Keating) famously told Franks, protesting in 1996, to "get a job".[3] Franks has since worked in community organisations such as [Amnesty International](/source/Amnesty_International) and the [YWCA](/source/YWCA) and held such positions such as Policy Officer for the Mental Health Coalition of South Australia. ## Political career Franks was the Higher Education and Youth Advisor for the [Australian Democrats](/source/Australian_Democrats) senator [Natasha Stott Despoja](/source/Natasha_Stott_Despoja) in 1995 and undertook a secondment to the 'Yes' campaign for the [Australian Republic Movement](/source/Australian_Republic_Movement) under the leadership of [Malcolm Turnbull](/source/Malcolm_Turnbull) during the [1999 republic referendum](/source/1999_Australian_republic_referendum) campaign. In the [2004 Senate Election](/source/2004_Australian_Senate_election), Franks ran in South Australia for the Australian Democrats as their third candidate on the ticket.[4] Franks has been active in the South Australian Greens since 2006, serving two terms as State Convenor and undertaking the task of SA Election Campaign Committee Convenor for the [2007 federal election](/source/2007_Australian_federal_election).[2] At the [2010 state election](/source/2010_South_Australian_state_election), the Greens achieved 6.6 percent of the statewide vote in the Legislative Council, an increase of 2.3 percent, resulting in Franks joining fellow Green [Mark Parnell](/source/Mark_Parnell) in the Upper House on the crossbench.[5] In September 2024, Franks said she would not contest the 2026 South Australian state election.[6] In May 2025, she resigned from the South Australian Greens, citing tensions within the party, and reiterated that she still did not intend to contest the next election "at this point".[7] However, in February 2026, she announced that she would run as an independent candidate for the Legislative Council in the election the following month.[8] At the [2026 South Australian Legislative Council election](/source/2026_South_Australian_Legislative_Council_election), running on an Independent Group ticket with Faith Coleman, they received 6,309 votes (0.6% of the primary vote which was equivalent to 10% of a quota). ## Controversies ### Tax returns It was reported in October 2011 that Franks had not lodged 10 tax returns since 2001, facing a maximum fine of $41,000.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Franks pleaded guilty on 28 October 2011 to ten counts of failing to lodge tax returns between 2001 and 2010, but later changed her plea to not guilty in March 2012. Franks said she had always paid tax, always provided a tax file number and did not owe the [Australian Taxation Office](/source/Australian_Taxation_Office) any money, and that the failure to lodge was due to her belief that if she was owed money, she wouldn't be required to lodge a tax return. She also cited a combination of personal factors, including a "nasty divorce".[9] Franks further claimed that when the [ATO](/source/Australian_Taxation_Office) had asked her to file her returns, they gave her only six weeks to respond, and she had been unable to access each of her group certificates or joint bank accounts, as they were scattered in boxes throughout the house and in a locked shed of the marital home which was owned by her then-husband. She claimed she did not realise the ATO would accept statutory declarations in place of missing or lost group certificates. Lawyers for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, said Franks should be fined the maximum amount of $41,800.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The magistrate said she would consider the matter and review the now-lodged tax returns before imposing a sentence.[3] Franks was convicted on 8 October 2012.[10] The magistrate rejected Franks's evidence that she had been unable to comply with a final notice because she could not get the relevant details. While the magistrate had great sympathy for her personal circumstances at the time she received the final notice, he found there were avenues available to her to obtain the information. The magistrate concluded Franks "did very little" to attempt to comply with the notice. Describing her as a "disorganised person" and "not an impressive witness", the Magistrate said Franks tended to blame others, including the Australian Taxation Office, for her situation. He said he preferred the evidence of an ATO employee, who contradicted Franks' evidence that she had asked for an extension of time in which to lodge the returns. The Magistrates fined Franks $6,600 and ordered her to pay $7,500 court costs. A conviction was recorded because of the seriousness of the offending, but she will be able to keep her seat in parliament, because they were not indictable offences.[11] ### Sexual harassment In 2021, Franks made allegations that [Sam Duluk](/source/Sam_Duluk) touched her [inappropriately](/source/Sexual_assault), which was denied by Duluk. Another politician, [Connie Bonaros](/source/Connie_Bonaros), also alleged that Duluk slapped her bottom. He was acquitted of assault charges.[12] ## See also - [Greens South Australia](/source/Greens_South_Australia) - [2010 South Australian state election](/source/2010_South_Australian_state_election) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hon_Tammy_Franks_1-0)** ["Hon Tammy Franks"](https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Search/Member?type=member&id=4363). South Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2026. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-About_Tammy_Franks_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-About_Tammy_Franks_2-1) ["About Tammy Franks"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120724145959/http://www.tammyfranks.org.au/about-tammy-franks/). Archived from [the original](http://www.tammyfranks.org.au/about-tammy-franks/) on 24 July 2012. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tax_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tax_3-1) ["Taxing time lands MLC in hot water: AdelaideNow 29 October 2011"](http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/greens-mlc-tammy-franks-did-not-file-tax-returns-for-10-years/story-e6frea83-1226179396752). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111029130054/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/greens-mlc-tammy-franks-did-not-file-tax-returns-for-10-years/story-e6frea83-1226179396752) from the original on 29 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Tammy Franks ten-year time out on tax"](http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=14233). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121025152431/http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=14233) from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-SA_parl_5-0)** ["Hon Tammy Anne Franks"](https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Search/Member?type=member&id=4363). *Members of the [Parliament of South Australia](/source/Parliament_of_South_Australia)*. Retrieved 10 November 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Kelsall, Thomas (30 September 2024). ["SA Greens veteran to leave parliament in 2026"](https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/archive/2024/09/30/sa-greens-veteran-to-leave-parliament-in-2026). *indailysa.com.au*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Resignation_7-0)** ["SA Greens MLC Tammy Franks resigns from party, citing 'unfair' behaviour"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-13/sa-greens-mp-tammy-franks-resign/105286058). *[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(Australia))*. 13 May 2025. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250513034835/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-13/sa-greens-mp-tammy-franks-resign/105286058) from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Karakulak, Helen (9 February 2026). ["Former controversial Green to run in state election as independent"](https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2026/02/09/former-controversial-green-to-run-in-state-election-as-independent). *indailysa.com.au*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["MP blames her tax file failure on belief in an urban myth: The Australian 29 October 2011"](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/mp-blames-her-tax-file-failure-on-belief-in-an-urban-myth/story-e6frgczx-1226179985718). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111028201841/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/mp-blames-her-tax-file-failure-on-belief-in-an-urban-myth/story-e6frgczx-1226179985718) from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Franks found guilty"](http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/sa-mp-tammy-franks-guilty-on-tax-charges/story-e6frfku9-1226490565787). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001001/http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/sa-mp-tammy-franks-guilty-on-tax-charges/story-e6frfku9-1226490565787) from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Greens MP Tammy Franks fined $6600 for failing to lodge tax returns"](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/greens-mp-tammy-franks-fined-6600-for-failing-to-lodge-tax-returns/story-fndo471r-1226497767583). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Cosenza, Emily (9 September 2021). ["Explosive claims about 'drunken pest' MP"](https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/nightmare-before-christmas-explosive-claims-of-sexual-harassment-racism-homophobia-against-mp-sam-duluk/news-story/4a368491d3ff7759e533b677245b55ec). *[news.com.au](/source/News.com.au)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210909213458/https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/nightmare-before-christmas-explosive-claims-of-sexual-harassment-racism-homophobia-against-mp-sam-duluk/news-story/4a368491d3ff7759e533b677245b55ec) from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021. ## External links - ["Franks, Tammy"](https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Search/Member?type=member&id=4363). *Members of the [Parliament of South Australia](/source/Parliament_of_South_Australia)*. Retrieved 19 August 2022. - [TammyFranks.org.au – official site](https://tammyfranks.org.au) - [Tammy Franks speech: Greens Dinner 14 November 2009 (Video: Part 1)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=KlsLunXN_co) – [(Part 2)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=gYQU1exB67Q) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tammy Franks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Franks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Franks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.