Background
Courtice was born in Bundaberg and was educated at Bundaberg South State School.
politician member of the Australian Senate
Courtice was born in Bundaberg and was educated at Bundaberg South State School.
He left school at twelve to work in the laboratory of the Millaquin sugar refinery at Bundaberg. In 1905 he was involved in the formation of the Bundaberg and District Workers" Union, which later became part of the Australian Workers" Union. Ben Courtice was appointed to a casual vacancy in the Australian Senate in 1937 representing the ALP. He was Minister for Trade and Customs in the second Chifley Ministry from November 1946 until Labor"s defeat at the 1949 election.
He retired from the Senate at the end of his term in June 1962.
Courtice"s older brother Frederick Courtice was an member of the Queensland Legislative Council for the Australian Labor Party, participating in the vote to abolish the Council in 1922.