Nic Street is returned to seat of Franklin on recount

Liberal MP Nic Street will return to State Parliament, replacing former Premier Will Hodgman. He’s already hinted at supporting a controversial bill

FORMER Liberal MP Nic Street will return to State Parliament after being elected on a recount triggered by the resignation of former Premier Will Hodgman.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission on Wednesday announced Mr Street had been elected in the seat of Franklin, following Mr Hodgman’s decision to quit politics last month.

Mr Street was one of four candidates who nominated for the recount — fellow Liberal Simon Duffy, Greens candidate Holly Ewin and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party’s Brendon Hext also contested.

Seventy per cent of votes considered in the recount flowed to Mr Street.

Mr Street was first elected to the House of Assembly in 2016 on a countback when Paul Harriss quit parliament. But he lost his seat at the 2018 election.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,’’ Mr Street, 40, told the Mercury.

“I’ve got two years to listen to the people of Franklin and I’m looking forward to it.

“Will leaving took me completely by surprise, but there was no doubt in my mind that I would nominate.

“I think I’ve still got something to contribute, so it was an easy decision.”

Mr Street, of Blackmans Bay, said he understood he would be sworn in on the first parliament sitting day for the year on March 3.

In the meantime, he said his priorities would be meeting with community members and groups and establishing his electoral office in Kingston.

He flagged his support for a Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill being brought forward this year by Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney.

Mr Street said the issue was important to him and that he had already spoken to Mr Gaffney about the proposed legislation.

Mr Street, a former Kingborough councillor, most recently worked as a senior adviser to Liberal MP for Franklin, Jacquie Petrusma.