Felix Ellis

The Honourable
Felix Ellis
MP
Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
for Braddon
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 June 2021
Preceded byAdam Brooks
In office
17 August 2020 – 1 May 2021
Preceded byJoan Rylah
Personal details
Born (1990-01-22) 22 January 1990 (age 34)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
CitizenshipAustralian/Lithuanian
Political partyLiberal Party
SpouseMargot Ellis
ChildrenWilliam Ellis
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionPlumber and gas fitter

Felix Ashton Ellis (born 22 January 1990) is an Australian politician, who was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly on 17 August 2020 in a recount to fill a vacancy for the division of Braddon. A member of the Liberal Party, Ellis is a member of the Second Rockliff ministry serving as Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Skills and Training and Housing and Planning.

Early life and education

Ellis was born in Brisbane[1] and raised in Western Australia, including in remote aboriginal communities. Ellis graduated from Hale School in 2007 before completing an apprenticeship in plumbing and gas fitting with the family business.

He moved to Tasmania in 2014 after his mother had moved there earlier,[2] and worked as a plumber on Tasmania's West Coast.

Political career

Ellis was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Braddon at the 2018 Tasmanian state election,[3] before being elected on countback caused by the resignation of Joan Rylah in August 2020.[4]

Following the 2018 state election, there was speculation that Ellis was considering running for federal parliament however, he was ineligible for the 2018 Braddon by-election as he maintains dual Australian and Lithuanian citizenship.[5]

Ellis was widely praised for his maiden speech which detailed his family's journey from the ruins of Lithuania following World War II, to ultimately, settling in Tasmania.

At the 2021 election, Ellis received the second highest first preference vote of all Braddon's 21 candidates, although he was unable to hold his seat on preferences.[6] However, Ellis was re-elected in a countback following the resignation of Adam Brooks immediately after the poll.[7]

Since his election, Ellis has been widely criticised by the Australian Greens and Bob Brown Foundation for his support of the mining and forestry industries in Tasmania.[8] Ellis has been a vocal supporter of the Tasmanian Government's workplace protection legislation saying, "It is completely unacceptable for workers at Venture Minerals' Riley Mine to come to work to find they can't get on site because greenies are chained to the front gates and machinery."[9]

Ellis caused a significant controversy in the final days of the 2021 election campaign when the global vegan community voiced criticism of him after he posted to social media a photo of himself eating a burger with the caption "Allergies: vegan food ...".[10]

In September 2021, Ellis used a speech in parliament to criticise Tasmanian Greens Leader Cassy O'Connor after she claimed the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was part of a 'death cult', referring to his membership of a Pentecostal church. Ellis said O'Connor's comments were "a sad reflection of a creeping, hateful, anti-Christian intolerance".[11]

Ellis voted against legislation to legalise euthanasia in March 2021, stating in an opinion editorial that "If we cannot yet create a system that cares which is free from abuse, I cannot see how we can create a system that kills which is free from abuse."[12] Ellis was one of only six MPs to vote against the legislation.[13]

On 28 February 2022, Ellis was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, and Government Whip.[14]

Following the resignation of Jacquie Petrusma, Ellis was elevated to the Ministry on 27 July 2022. Ellis was appointed as Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Resources, and Skills, Training and Workforce Growth.[15]

Personal life

Ellis is married to former ABC Landline journalist Margot Kelly.[16] and they have two sons.

References

  1. ^ "ELLIS, Felix Ashton". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  2. ^ Maloney, Matt (27 July 2020). "Ellis to stand in Braddon recount". The Examiner. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. ^ Green, Antony. "Tasmania Votes – Braddon". ABC Election. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Braddon Recount – Completed". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Colbeck staffer rules out by-election run". The Mercury. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Braddon results - 2021 State election Tasmania". www.tec.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Felix Ellis leads Braddon recount". The Examiner. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Felix Ellis enters the Tarkine battleground". The Advocate. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Felix Ellis enters the Tarkine battleground". The Advocate. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Tasmanian Liberal candidate in social media vegetable stew". The Advocate. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  11. ^ "State Greens leader claims PM belongs to a 'death cult'". The Advocate. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  12. ^ Mp, Felix Ellis (25 December 2020). "Emotional and incredibly important debate". The Advocate. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Euthanasia in Australia", Wikipedia, 15 March 2022, retrieved 7 April 2022
  14. ^ "Tasmanian Liberal Government Ministry". www.premier.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Statement from the Premier". www.premier.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  16. ^ Ellis, Felix [@felix_ellis] (28 February 2021). "Margot and I are delighted to share with you our happy news! Like a lot of couples, we cancelled our 2020 wedding during COVID lockdown, but we feel truly blessed that brighter days have come in 2021. #tasmania #politas #wedding https://t.co/DpGNgzBFHO" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via Twitter.