Nickolas Varvaris (born 25 May 1974) is a former Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for the House of Representatives seat of Barton between 2013 and 2016. He recontested his seat at the 2016 election but lost to Labor's Linda Burney.

Nickolas Varvaris
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Barton
In office
7 September 2013 – 2 July 2016
Preceded byRobert McClelland
Succeeded byLinda Burney
Personal details
Born (1974-05-25) 25 May 1974 (age 50)
Sydney, Australia
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
SpouseDorette
Children2
ProfessionPolitician

Early years and background

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Varvaris was born a twin child in a Greek migrant family of five children, in Sydney, New South Wales.[1] A BBus (UTS), CPA graduate, he owned his own local business before entering politics. He was also a councillor of the Kogarah City Council from 1999 and was the mayor from 2008.[2]

Parliament

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Varvaris was the Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Barton in New South Wales since the 2013 federal election, achieving a two-party swing of 7.2 percent in Barton to finish with a two-party vote of just 50.3 percent, which made Barton the government's most marginal seat in the country.[3]

A redistribution prior to the 2016 federal election erased Varvaris' knife-edge majority and gave Labor a notional margin of 54.4 percent.[4] It was not until under on-going pressure in May 2016 that Varvaris eventually confirmed his intention to re-contest the seat. Linda Burney contested the seat for Labor, and won it with a swing of over 3 percent.[5][6][7]

Varvaris did not live in his electorate at the time of the 2016 election, but in neighbouring Cook.[8]

Family

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He is married with two children.[2]

References

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  1. ^ First Speech: Nickolas Varvaris MP, Parliament of Australia, 11 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Nickolas Varvaris Liberal for Barton". Liberal Party of Australia – New South Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  3. ^ 2013 federal election results: AEC
  4. ^ 2016 Federal Election Pendulum (Update): Antony Green ABC 13 March 2016
  5. ^ Liberal MP Nick Varvaris can't decide whether to recontest: SMH 29 April 2016
  6. ^ Barton - 2016 federal election: Antony Green ABC
  7. ^ "Barton, NSW". Tally Room. Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  8. ^ "How local is local? The 12 MPs who don't live in the seats they're trying to win". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Barton
2013–2016
Succeeded by