Tasmania’s police minister has expressed regret over a decade-old speeding and unlicensed-driving conviction that resurfaced during a parliamentary hearing.
Felix Ellis was caught driving 13 kilometres over the speed limit on Forth Road while unlicensed in 2015, receiving demerit points and a fine.
The incident came to light in parliament on Thursday when Labor’s Jen Butler questioned how the minister’s history squared with his push for tougher hooning laws.
She suggested his behaviour amounted to hooning, given his “fierce” public stance on road safety – a claim Ellis rejected.
“Driving without a licence … doesn’t pass the pub test and also speeding or dangerous driving,” Butler said.
Ellis has been vocal in criticising dangerous drivers, labelling people who film themselves committing offences and post the footage online as “TikTok turkeys” and supporting harsh penalties including vehicle confiscation.
He told the committee he was unlicensed at the time because he had failed to transfer his Western Australian licence within the required timeframe after moving to Tasmania as a young plumber.
“I didn’t realise that you need to change over your driver’s licence when you moved to Tasmania after something like three months,” he said.
“And then was found driving on a suspended licence because of that matter. That was about ten years ago.”
Ellis drew a distinction between his “low-range” speeding offence and hooning behaviour such as dangerous driving or loss-of-traction events.
“Every day road users – people – make mistakes,” he said.
“That’s why we don’t confiscate and crush people’s cars when they’re driving 10 kilometres over the speed limit.”
Ellis said he wished he had exercised more care but maintained the incident was the result of an administrative oversight.
“Certainly something that I think for all young people, when they’re moving interstate, it’s important to consider that there are some of these administrative paperwork rules,” he said.
