[2][3] Bates was born in Croydon, South London; his family moved to Australia during the financial crisis of 2007–2008, settling in the central Queensland town of Yeppoon.

[4] Bates studied at the University of Queensland, originally for a Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management.

[3] Bates' campaign was noted for its use of geo-located Grindr advertisements with risqué slogans, such as promoting that "the best parliaments are hung".

[7] In an interview with radio station B105 FM, Bates credited the ads as a vital component of his election victory.

Bates is openly gay and joined the Greens on the night of the 2019 Federal election.