Former Bass Labor MHR Ross Hart is preparing to open up his own legal practice on Cameron Street in Launceston, following his narrow election defeat more than three weeks ago.
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Mr Hart, a commercial lawyer by trade, was a director at Rae & Partners prior to 2016, but sold his interest in the firm when he became the federal member for Bass. He did, however, continue on as a consultant for the firm while he was in parliament.
"I'm still on very good terms with Rae & Partners," Mr Hart said. "They'll probably be referring work to me."
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He is set to open his new firm, Ross A. Hart Barristers and Solicitors, in August. A friend of Mr Hart's has offered him space in his building on Cameron Street.
Trish Southam, who was Mr Hart's personal assistant when he was at Rae & Partners, as well as when he was an MP, will be joining Mr Hart at his practice, which he said he was "very pleased" about.
Mr Hart said he specialised in dispute resolution and dealt with "complex matters that involve solving complex problems" such as those associated with business and property transactions.
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"There's a loss of senior people in the legal profession," Mr Hart said. "It's very difficult to wave a magic wand and give somebody 30 years' experience."
"So even if you've got somebody that's prodigiously talented, they're not going to be able to do a lot of things because they haven't got the experience."
Newly elected Liberal candidate Bridget Archer beat Mr Hart by just 562 votes at the election, leaving her with a wafer-thin margin in the notoriously volatile electorate.
"I don't think I could have [done anything more]," Mr Hart said, referring to his efforts in the campaign. "I was active, I spent a whole lot of time engaging with community groups and getting around the electorate."
Mr Hart has suggested he will seek a return to federal politics in the future, hoping to run for Bass again. He says he feels he has "unfinished business".
And he's been encouraged to do so by people approaching him on the street.
"I walked down Brisbane Street last week and I was going to the bank," he said.
"I ended up being stopped three or four times as I walked.
I don't think I could have [done anything more].
- Ross Hart, former Bass Labor MHR
"And not by people that I knew either. Just people that wanted to say hello, shake my hand and wish me well."
Then, this week, Mr Hart said he was approached by "a couple" of people when he was shopping at his local IGA at Norwood. They told him, "[We're] so pleased that you're running again".
Mr Hart took the opportunity to thank his "fantastic staff" for their assistance over the past three years.
"It is trite but it is an absolute privilege and an honour to serve [in the Federal Parliament] in any capacity," he said.