Simon Behrakis takes Clark seat after Tasmania vote recount

The Hobart City alderman will take the seat of Elise Archer, a former Speaker and Minister for Justice, Corrections, Environment and Parks and the Arts.

With 55.2 per cent of the vote, Simon Behrakis – who had also run in 2021 – defeated Will Coats, a former colleague on the Hobart City Council, to gain the Liberal Party seat of Clark.

After securing victory, Behrakis said that “it’s an honour to be elected as the new member for Clark in today’s recount.” The Greek-Australian elaborated: “I love this state, and it is humbling to be given the responsibility to represent the people of Clark in our state’s parliament.”

As a former Hobart City alderman, Behrakis seeks to carry his political agenda from the council with him as a local MP. Specifically, Behrakis said that he is “excited to hit the ground running to deliver what matters for the people of Clark, particularly on the issues which I have already been advocating for during my time as an Alderman for the City of Hobart” and added that “this includes building our state’s infrastructure to increase housing supply and reducing traffic congestion so that all Tasmanians, even our most vulnerable, can live, work and get around our state.”

On his turn, Tasmanian Premier – and Leader of the Liberal Party of Tasmania – Jeremy Rockliff congratulated Behrakis on his electoral victory. Rockliff said of Behrakis: “”Having campaigned alongside Simon at the last two elections, I know he is a fierce advocate for Tasmania, particularly for the Clark electorate.”

The Tasmanian Premier added that “Simon has represented the local community as Alderman in the Hobart City Council for the past five years and is well across the issues that matter to Tasmanians” and that he is “confident that Simon will hit the ground running and be a strong voice for the people of Clark.”

Notably, Elise Archer had also served as a Hobart City alderman, just like Behrakis, while the Greek-Australian’s election in the Tasmanian Parliament means that a recount will be required to fill his seat on the city council.