James Bennett

James Bennett (1874 – 23 November 1951) was an Australian farmer and politician. He was one of the founders of Victoria's People's Party and served a single term in the House of Representatives from 1913 to 1914. He represented the Victorian seat of Gippsland and sat as a Liberal in parliament.

Early life Bennett was born in 1874 in South Australia, either in Rapid Bay or Glenelg. He grew up on the Yorke Peninsula, leaving school at the age of 13. He and his parents moved to the Mallee region of Victoria two years later, settling on a property located outside of Warracknabeal. Bennett bought his own farm in 1900, during the Federation Drought. He was involved with various farmers' advocacy groups. He became a paid organiser for the party. He defeated the incumbent independent member George Wise at the 1913 federal election on a swing of 12.7 points. He was a supporter of preferential voting, and was described by Melbourne's Punch as "sound and reliable - a farmers' representative for a farmers' seat".

Later life Bennett later worked in Melbourne as a real estate agent and builder. He died on 21 November 1951.