Andrew Nikolic

Brigadier (Retd) Andrew Alexander Nikolic (Serbian Cyrillic: Андру Александ Николић) AM CSC MP (born 20 June 1961 in Serbia, then Yugoslavia) is an Australian politician, retired senior Australian Army officer and a former public servant in the Department of Defence. He was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal Party of Australia representative for the Tasmanian seat of Bass at the 2013 federal election.

Early years

Nikolic was born in Serbia on 20 June 1961, and migrated to Australia as a four-year-old. He was raised in Melbourne and Adelaide.

Military career

Andrew Nikolic enlisted in the Australian Army in January 1979, and after completing recruit training 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.