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This biographical article is written like a résumé. Please help improve it by revising it to be neutral and encyclopedic. (May 2012)

Andrew Nikolić
Allegiance	Australia
Service / branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1979–2010
Rank	Brigadier
Commands	Army Recruit Training Centre Parachute Training School Australian National Commander, Southern Iraq
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Member of the Order of Australia Conspicuous Service Cross

Brigadier Andrew Nikolić AM, CSC served in the Australian Army for over 30 years and until July 2011, was employed as a senior public servant in the Department of Defence. His pre-selection as the Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Bass in Tasmania at the next federal election was announced on 8 July 2011.

Military career

Andrew Nikolić 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.

As a captain, Nikolic taught tactics at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and as a Lieutenant Colonel, served as the Commanding Officer / Chief Instructor of the Parachute Training School. He is a qualified static line and free fall parachute instructor, and in 2000-2001 led the Army ‘Red Berets’ Parachute Display Team. 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 as the principal spokesperson for the Department of Defence.

Nikolić'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).

Nikolic received a commendation for bravery from the South Australian Commissioner of Police in 1987. He is a recipient of the Conspicuous Service Cross (2002 Australia Day Honours List), and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (2010 Australia Day Honours List) for "exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in the field of operations and international policy." He is a recipient of the Australian Active Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Australian Service Medal (with clasps 'South East Asia' and 'Middle East'), the Defence Force Service Medal (with 3 clasps for 30–34 years' service), the Australian Defence Medal, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation Medal, the United Kingdom Operation TELIC Medal for service in Iraq, and the Returned From Active Service Badge.

Andrew Nikolic is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College, Joint Services Staff College, Philippines Joint College, United States Army War College, the United Nations Senior Leaders' Course, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He holds two Bachelors Degrees in Arts and Social Science, and three Masters Degrees in Management, International Relations, and Strategic Studies.

Prior to his preselection as a political candidate for the Liberal Party, Andrew Nikolić was employed in the Department of Defence as First Assistant Secretary, International Policy Division, (a 2 star equivalent position), with responsibility for providing strategic level policy advice to Government on Australia's international defence relations and Australian Defence Force operations.

Political career

His pre-selection as the Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Bass in Tasmania at the next federal election was announced on 8 July 2011.

Family

He married Christine in 1986 and they have two girls and a boy.

Facebook Scandal

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In May 2012, Nikolic gained international attention as a result of his reported reaction to Facebook users' responses to an anonymous posting on the New Examiner's Facebook page. The anonymous posting was a satirical article modified from an article from The Onion, stating that Nikolic had claimed to have been "heroically killed in action during services in Afghanistan" and that he also claimed to have suffered "a slow, painful death by torture at the hands of Tamil militants in 2002". Nikolić reportedly responded on the facebook page saying he intended to write official letters of complaint to all the employers of users who "liked" the article, a response that garnered considerable criticism in Australian newspapers and international media. When interviewed, Nikolic said that he and his family were offended by the post, but denied that he had made any threats.

Honours

• Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
• Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
• Australian Active Service Medal
• Afghanistan Medal (Australia)
• Iraq Medal (Australia)
• Australian Service Medal (with clasps 'South East Asia' and 'Middle East')
• Defence Force Service Medal (with 3 clasps for 30–34 years' service)
• Australian Defence Medal
• United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) Medal
• Iraq Medal (United Kingdom)

References

1. ^ Records attesting to the issue of medals / commendations are held at the Directorate of Officer Career Management, R8-6, Russell Offices Canberra ACT (02 6265 2541).
2. ^ Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC), 26 January 2002, It's an Honour
3. ^ Member of the Order of Australia (AM), 26 January 2010, It's an Honour
   For exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in the field of operations and international policy.
4. International Policy Division, www.defence.gov.au
5. ^ James Manning (9 May 2012). "Liberal candidate threatens Facebook users over satirical article". The Canberra Times and many other papers including The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 May 2012. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
6. Gabriella Tesoro (11 May 2012). "Quando la satira online colpisce i permalosi". PuntoInformatico (in Italian). Rome. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
7. Richard Chirgwin (8 May 2012). "Oz candidate menaces Facebook users". The Register. UK. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
8. Nick Farrell (9 May 2012). "Aussie politician threatens to get Facebook likers fired : New means of Liberal censorship". TechEye.net. Rome. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
9. David Vranicar (9 May 2012). "The Australian Pol Who Hates 'Likes'". E-Commerce Times. US. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
10. Nick Clark (9 May 2012). "Lib candidate in Facebook spat". The Mercury. Hobart. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
11. Rosemary Bolger (9 May 2012). "Nikolic cops online abuse". The Examiner. Tasmania. Retrieved 12 May 2012.

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