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.
Faith & religion verified
Eric Abetz is a Christian. His Wikipedia article states he is a Protestant Christian and a member of the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia.
Abortion & reproductive policy verified
Stated position / recorded federal vote: As a Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Eric Abetz was one of ten senators who voted yes in 2017 on Cory Bernardi's motion to ban abortion on gender grounds (the motion was not carried). His Wikipedia biography also records his association with anti-abortion group Right to Life Australia.
Gender & LGBTQ+ policy verified
In a November 2017 Senate speech Abetz argued that "same-sex marriage is not a human right" in the way religious freedoms and heterosexual marriage are, and opposed the inclusion of trans, intersex and non-binary protections in the marriage legislation. (Stated position.)
Religious freedom verified
Abetz is a public opponent of same-sex marriage and was among 12 senators who voted against the 2017 marriage-equality legislation; he identifies as a Protestant Christian and has been associated with conservative groups including the Australian Christian Lobby and Right to Life Australia. Stated positions and a recorded Senate vote.
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). He cast these votes as a senator for Tasmania and has since moved to the Tasmanian House of Assembly.
Record last updated 2026-08-13.