Sourced positions
A verified position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.
Immigration verified
Paterson defended the Coalition's plan to reduce migration, arguing it would bring in 140,000 permanent residents in a way that is "much more sustainable than what Labor has been doing" and would "ease pressure on the housing market, health sector and congestion."
Faith & religion verified
Paterson is an agnostic and has described himself as 'not religious at all', although his wife is Catholic and his children were baptised Catholic.
Foreign policy & aid verified
Paterson is a strong critic of China; he and Andrew Hastie were denied entry to China in 2019 over their criticism of Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs, and in 2022 he became Australian Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. He has stated that China's "foreign interference and espionage are the greatest threat to Australia's way of life, surpassing terrorism" (October 2021). He has advocated a CANZUK freedom-of-movement arrangement between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Freedom of speech verified
Voted for the second reading of the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2017, which proposed replacing 'offend, insult, humiliate' with 'harass' in section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act (Senate, 30 March 2017; Ayes 32, Noes 29). Voted for Schedule 1 of that bill to stand as printed, the provision making the substitution; the Schedule was negatived and the change did not proceed (Senate, in committee, 30-31 March 2017; Ayes 28, Noes 31).
Record last updated 2026-08-13.