Andrew Nikolic

{{Short description|Australian Army brigadier and politician (born 1961)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Andrew Nikolic | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM|CSC}} | image = Andrew Nikolic -June 2009.jpg | alt = | caption = Official portrait, 2009 | office = Government Whip in the House of Representatives | prime_minister = Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull | term_start = 13 February 2015 | term_end = 20 September 2015 | predecessor = Scott Buchholz | successor = Brett Whiteley | constituency_MP1 = Bass | parliament1 = Australian | term_start1 = 7 September 2013 | term_end1 = 2 July 2016 | predecessor1 = Geoff Lyons | successor1 = Ross Hart | birth_name = Andrija Nikolić | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1961|06|20}} | birth_place = Prokuplje, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Christine Nikolic | children = 3 | alma_mater = Officer Cadet School, Portsea University of Adelaide Southern Cross University University of New South Wales Deakin University United States Army War College | allegiance = Australia | branch = Australian Army | service_years = 1979–2008 | rank = Brigadier | unit = | commands = Australian National Commander, Southern Iraq Parachute Training School Army Recruit Training Centre | battles = War in Afghanistan Iraq War | mawards = Member of the Order of Australia Conspicuous Service Cross | native_name = | native_name_lang = }} '''Andrew Alexander Nikolic''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AM|CSC}} (born 20 June 1961) is a former Australian politician, retired senior Australian Army officer, and a former public servant in the Department of Defence.<ref name=defencecivil/><ref name=AM/> He was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal Party representative for the Tasmanian seat of Bass at the 2013 federal election, but after one term, he lost his seat at the 2016 federal election.<ref name=AWM/><ref name=Nikolic4Bass/>

==Early years== Andrija Nikolić ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Андрија Николић}}) was born in Serbia, at the time part of Yugoslavia, on 20 June 1961, and migrated to Australia with his family as a four-year-old. He was raised in Melbourne and Adelaide.<ref name=AWM>{{cite web |publisher=Australian War Memorial |url=http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/REL39187 |date=c. 2003 |title=Shemagh: Lieutenant Colonel A A Nikolic, Australian Army |access-date=20 May 2012 |quote=This shemagh was used by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Nikolic in 2001–2002 as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Australian Headquarters in the Middle East, based in the United Arab Emirates. ''The text continues with a biography of Nikolic.'' |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121127224753/http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/REL39187 |archive-date=27 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=QVMAG/><ref name=Darby>{{cite news |author=Darby, Andrew |title=Digital life, political strife |date=14 May 2012 |publisher=Fairfax Media |work=National Times, WAtoday |access-date=20 May 2012 |url=http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/politics/digital-life-political-strife-20120514-1ym23.html}}</ref>

==Military career== Nikolic enlisted in the Australian Army in January 1979, and after completing recruit training, he was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Following 18 months' service as an infantry soldier, he attended the Officer Cadet School, Portsea, and returned to the infantry corps as a second lieutenant in June 1981. He subsequently served in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Parachute) for almost seven years as a Platoon Commander, Reconnaissance Platoon Commander, Company Commander (Alpha Company), and as the battalion operations officer.<ref name=AWM/>

As a captain, Nikolic studied history and politics at the University of Adelaide, where he served as adjutant of the Adelaide University Regiment from 1986 to 1988.<ref name=AWM/> After graduation, he taught tactics at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. As a lieutenant colonel, he served as the commanding officer and chief instructor of the Parachute Training School. He is a qualified static-line and free-fall parachute instructor, and in 2000–2001, he led the Army "Red Berets" Parachute Display Team.<ref name=QVMAG/> As a colonel, in 2003, Nikolic became the first commandant appointed to lead the Army Recruit Training Centre to have also graduated as a soldier.

In 2007, he was promoted to brigadier and appointed director general of public affairs, the principal spokesperson for the Department of Defence.<ref name=DGPA>{{cite press release|author=Nikolic, Brigadier Andrew (Director General Public Affairs) |title=Public release of information by the ADF |work=Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication 368/07 |publisher=Department of Defence |location=Canberra |date=11 October 2007 |access-date=20 May 2012 |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=7171 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121128190636/http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=7171 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 November 2012 }}</ref>

Nikolic's overseas postings include service as: * a United Nations Military Observer in Israel, Syria and South Lebanon (November 1990 – November 1991); * Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Australian National Headquarters during the first deployment of Operation Slipper to Afghanistan (October 2001 – March 2002); and * the National Command Representative for Australian Forces in Southern Iraq (February – October 2005). In addition to his Australian command responsibilities in Southern Iraq, he concurrently served as Chief of Staff of the British-led Multinational Division (South East).{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}

Nikolic holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Politics from the University of Adelaide, a Bachelor of Social Science in Human Resources Development from Southern Cross University, a Master of Management Studies from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Arts in International Relations from Deakin University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He is also a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College, Joint Services Staff College, Philippines Joint College, the United Nations Senior Leaders' Course, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.<ref name=QVMAG/><ref name=LibPartyBio>{{cite web|title=About Andrew |url=http://andrewnikolic.com/about-andrew/ |publisher=Liberal Party of Australia |access-date=20 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029123709/http://andrewnikolic.com/about-andrew/ |archive-date=29 October 2012 }}</ref>

===Civilian career in Department of Defence=== From 2008 until 2011, Nikolic was employed in the Department of Defence as First Assistant Secretary, International Policy Division (a civilian Major General equivalent position), with responsibility for providing strategic level policy advice to government on Australia's international defence relations and Australian Defence Force operations.<ref name=defencecivil>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/strategy/organisation/ip.htm |title=International Policy Division |work=www.defence.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814031147/http://www.defence.gov.au/strategy/organisation/ip.htm |archive-date=14 August 2008 }}</ref>

==Political career== Nikolic's pre-selection as the Liberal Party candidate for the 2013 federal election for the seat of Bass in Tasmania - which had been held by the Labor Party since 2007 - was announced on 8 July 2011.<ref name=Nikolic4Bass>{{cite web|title=Andrew Nikolic: Your federal Liberal candidate for Bass |publisher=Liberal Party of Australia |url=http://andrewnikolic.com/ |access-date=20 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028093118/http://andrewnikolic.com/ |archive-date=28 October 2012 }}</ref> He had expressed interest in contesting the seat of Bass after the leadup to the 2010 election when he was stationed in Canberra.<ref name = ExaminerApril2011>{{cite news |title=Bass seat interest by Nikolic |date=11 April 2011 |work=The Examiner |location=Tasmania |access-date=20 May 2012 |url=http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/politics/bass-seat-interest-by-nikolic/2129579.aspx?src=rss }}</ref> Although an election was not required until 30 November 2013, Nikolic began campaigning actively soon after pre-selection. He set up a website for his candidacy, and his campaigning activities in the Launceston area were reported in the media,<ref name=Nikolic4Bass/><ref name=Maloney>{{cite news |author=Maloney, Matt |date=12 February 2012 |work=The Examiner |location=Tasmania |access-date=20 May 2012 |title=Battle for Bass erupts in war of words |url=http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/politics/battle-for-bass-erupts-in-war-of-words/2451912.aspx?src=rss }}</ref> along with his confrontations with local environmentalists.<ref name=ABCFeb2012>{{cite news |work=ABC News |location=Australia |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-14/forest-clashes-in-launceston/3828900?section=tas |date=14 February 2012 |title=Forest clashes in Launceston |access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref>

Following a satirical posting about him on Facebook in May 2012, it was reported that Nikolic had threatened to contact the employers of readers who "liked" the post. Nikolic denied making these threats, and later stated that he had no intention of contacting any employer; that his request was just for the posting to be removed.<ref name=FairfaxMay2012>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/liberal-candidate-threatens-facebook-users-over-satirical-article-20120508-1y9v3.html |title=Liberal candidate threatens Facebook users over satirical article |author=Manning, James |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=12 May 2012 |work=The Canberra Times }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/liberal-candidate-threatens-facebook-users-over-satirical-article-20120508-1y9v3.html |work=The Age |title=Liberal candidate threatens Facebook users over satirical article |author=Manning, James |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=12 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/liberal-candidate-threatens-facebook-users-over-satirical-article-20120508-1y9v3.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |title=Liberal candidate threatens Facebook users over satirical article |author=Manning, James |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=12 May 2012 }}</ref> The story was published by international media.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Register |author=Chirgwin, Richard |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/08/nikolic_threatens_facebook_users/ |title=Oz candidate menaces Facebook users |date=8 May 2012 |location=UK |access-date=12 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://punto-informatico.it/3514348/PI/News/quando-satira-online-colpisce-permalosi.aspx |title=Quando la satira online colpisce i permalosi |language=Italian |date=11 May 2012 |author=Tesoro, Gabriella |work=PuntoInformatico |location=Rome |access-date=12 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515230746/http://punto-informatico.it/3514348/PI/News/quando-satira-online-colpisce-permalosi.aspx |archive-date=15 May 2012}}</ref> In July 2013, the story was subsequently the subject of a ruling by the Australian Press Council.<ref name=MurdochMay2012>{{cite news |work=The Mercury |location=Hobart |author=Clark, Nick |date=9 May 2012 |url=http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/05/09/326671_tasmania-news.html |title=Lib candidate in Facebook spat |access-date=12 May 2012}}</ref> In July 2013, in response to a complaint filed by Nikolic, the Australian Press Council found that ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' "failed to take reasonable steps to ensure accuracy and fairness" on some matters in its article on the subject.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Australian Press Council |url=http://www.presscouncil.org.au/document-search/adj-1564/ |title=Adjudication No. 1564: Andrew Nikolic / The Sydney Morning Herald (July 2013) |date=3 July 2013 |location=Australia |access-date=4 July 2013 |archive-date=22 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122140629/http://www.presscouncil.org.au/document-search/adj-1564/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In mid-August 2013, the then sitting member for Bass, Geoff Lyons, made false statements to high-school students about Nikolic's military career, claiming Nikolic had "misled" journalists about his role in the military. Lyons subsequently said he was "sincerely sorry" for his remarks about his opponent.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.news.com.au/national-news/federal-election/labor-mp-geoff-lyons-insults-former-soldier-turned-star-liberal-candidate-andrew-nikolic/story-fnho52ip-1226697418858 |title= Labor MP Geoff Lyons insults former soldier turned star Liberal candidate Andrew Nikolic |author= Lewis, Steve |publisher=News Limited |date= 14 August 2013 |access-date= 16 August 2013 }}</ref> Nikolic was elected in September 2013 with a swing of almost 11 percent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tas Division – Bass|url=http://results.aec.gov.au/17496/Website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-17496-192.htm|website=Election 2013 – Virtual Tally Room|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|access-date=2015-02-13}}</ref>

On 13 February 2015, Nikolic was appointed Government Whip by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, following the dismissal of Philip Ruddock as Chief Government Whip.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kenny|first1=Chris|title=Coalition elder statesman Philip Ruddock axed as Chief Whip following Liberal Party spill attempt|url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/coalition-elder-statesman-philip-ruddock-axed-as-chief-whip-following-liberal-party-spill-attempt-20150213-13ee22.html|access-date=2015-02-13|work=The Age|date=2015-02-13}}</ref> Nikolic was dropped as Government Whip on 20 September 2015 as a result of a ministerial reshuffle by the new prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who had been elected during a leadership spill earlier that month.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Andrew Nikolic – Government whip role |url = https://www.facebook.com/AndrewNikolic4Bass/posts/898705560197957|website = www.facebook.com|access-date = 2015-09-21}}</ref><ref name="Nikolic aph">{{cite Au Parliament |name=Mr Andrew Nikolic MP |access-date=2021-11-06 |mpid=137174}}</ref>

On 2 July 2016, Nikolic lost his seat to Ross Hart of the Australian Labor Party, after a 10.1% swing against him in the two party preferred vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/guide/bass/|title=Bass - Australia Votes | Federal Election 2016 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>

==Family== Nikolic married Launceston-born Christine Symons in 1986. They have three children - two girls, and a boy. After being Canberra-based for many years, they moved to Launceston in 2011.<ref name=QVMAG>{{cite web |title=Andrew Nikolic: Impressions of a fortunate life |publisher= Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk |date=24 April 2012 |url= http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/bloogoocms/uploads/files/publicprogs/mailoutApr12/Morn%20Coffee%2024%20Apr%2012%20Nikolec.pdf |location= Launceston |access-date=20 May 2012 |work=Oral Histories of Launceston and Northern Tasmania}}{{dead link|date=July 2013}}</ref><ref name=LibPartyBio/><ref name=ExaminerApril2011/><ref name=Maloney/>

==Publications== *{{cite journal  |title= Iran and the United States : Interests, Options, Consequences |location=US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania |work=USAWC Strategy Research Project |url=http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ada468949 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408131915/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ada468949 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 April 2013 |date=30 March 2007}} *{{cite journal  |title= Let's not devalue our troops' role |work=The Examiner |date=13 November 2011 |page=25}} *{{cite journal  |title= Three views on how to make the North prosper |work=The Examiner |url=http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1129494/three-views-on-how-to-make-the-north-prosper/?cs=95 |date=19 November 2012}} *{{cite journal  |title= HADR: in search of low-cost innovative solutions |publisher= aspistrategist.org.au |location=Launceston, Tasmania |url=http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/hadr-in-search-of-low-cost-innovative-solutions/ |date=8 May 2013}}

==Honours and awards== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Ribbon !! Award !! Date and reference |- |80px || Member of the Order of Australia (AM) || 26 January 2010<ref name=AM>{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1141862 |date=2010-01-26 |recipient=Brigadier Andrew Alexander Nikolic |award=Member of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AM |citation=For exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in the field of operations and international policy. |access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref> |- |80px || Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) || 26 January 2002<ref name=CSC>{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1132211 |date=2002-01-26 |recipient=Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Alexander Nikolic |award=Conspicuous Service Cross |postnominal=CSC |access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref> |- |80px || Australian Active Service Medal ||<ref name=Nikolic4Bass/> |- |80px || Afghanistan Medal ||<ref name=Nikolic4Bass/> |- |80px || Iraq Medal ||<ref name=Nikolic4Bass/> |- |80px || Australian Service Medal ||with two clasps 'South East Asia' and 'Middle East'{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} |- |80px || Defence Force Service Medal with 2 Rosettes || for 25–29 years of service<ref name=Nikolic4Bass/> |- |80px || Australian Defence Medal ||<ref name=Nikolic4Bass/> |- |80px || United Nations Medal || for service with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)<ref name=Nikolic4Bass/> |- |80px || Iraq Medal || (United Kingdom){{citation needed|date=June 2016}} |- | || Commendation for bravery || 1987 (from the South Australian Commissioner of Police)<ref name=QVMAG/> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links ==  * {{Facebook|AndrewNikolic}}   {{s-start}} {{s-par|au}} {{s-bef|before=Geoff Lyons}} {{s-ttl|title=Member for Bass|years=2013–2016}} {{s-aft|after=Ross Hart}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikolic, Andrew}} Category:1961 births Category:Abbott government Category:Australian brigadiers Category:Australian military personnel of the Iraq War Category:Australian people of Serbian descent Category:Graduates of the Officer Cadet School, Portsea Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Living people Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Bass Category:Members of the Order of Australia Category:Recipients of the Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia) Category:Yugoslav emigrants to Australia Category:20th-century Australian military personnel Category:Military personnel from Adelaide Category:Military personnel from Melbourne Category:Australian MPs 2013–2016