Eric Abetz

Eric Abetz
Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office
18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
DeputyGeorge Brandis
Preceded byPenny Wong
Succeeded byGeorge Brandis
Minister for Employment
In office
18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded byBill Shorten
Succeeded byMichaelia Cash
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
In office
3 May 2010 – 18 September 2013
DeputyGeorge Brandis
LeaderTony Abbott
Preceded byNick Minchin
Succeeded byPenny Wong
Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation
In office
27 January 2006 – 3 December 2007
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byIan Macdonald
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Special Minister of State
In office
30 January 2001 – 27 January 2006
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byChris Ellison
Succeeded byGary Nairn
Senator for Tasmania
In office
22 February 1994 – 30 June 2022
Preceded byBrian Archer
Succeeded byTammy Tyrrell
Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
for Franklin
Assumed office
23 March 2024
Personal details
Born (1958-01-25) 25 January 1958 (age 66)
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
CitizenshipAustralian (1974–present)
West German (1958–1974)[1]
Political partyLiberal
Alma materUniversity of Tasmania
ProfessionLawyer
Websiteabetz.com.au

Eric Abetz (born 25 January 1958) is an Australian politician. He was a Senator for Tasmania from 1994 to 2022, representing the Liberal Party, and since March 2024 has been a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the Franklin electorate.

He was the Minister for Employment and the Leader of the Government in the Senate in the Abbott government from 2013 to 2015.[2] He previously also served as Special Minister of State in the Howard government from 2001 to 2006 and as Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation from 2006 to 2007.

Born in Germany, Abetz emigrated to Australia as a small child, when his father came to work for Tasmania's Hydro Electric Commission. He was educated at the University of Tasmania and was a barrister and solicitor before entering politics. He is a former national president of the Australian Liberal Students' Federation and was state president of the Tasmanian Liberals from 1990 to 1994.

  1. ^ Eric Abetz, Senator (25 October 2010). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: Senate. p. 559.
  2. ^ "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". smh.com.au. AAP. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.

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