Biography for ABETZ, the Hon. EricSenator for Tasmania
Liberal Party of Australia
Parliamentary Service
Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 22.2.1994 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice BR Archer (resigned) (term ended 30.6.1999). Elected 1998 (term began 1.7.1999), 2004 and 2010.
Ministerial Appointments
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence from 21.10.98 to 30.1.01.
Special Minister of State from 30.1.01 to 27.1.06.
Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation from 27.1.06 to 3.12.07.
Committee Service
Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances from 24.2.94 to 29.4.96; Senators' Interests from 24.3.94 to 8.2.01; Selection of Bills from 20.3.07 to 11.2.08; Procedure from 20.6.07 to 11.2.08 and from 3.2.09.
Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment, Recreation and the Arts from 1.3.94 to 10.10.94; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References Committee from 10.10.94 to 29.4.96; Legal and Constitutional: References Committee from 10.10.94 to 9.11.98 and Legislation Committee from 10.10.94 to 17.10.94 and from 8.5.96 (Chair from 3.3.97) to 9.11.98.
Senate Select: Unresolved Whistleblower Cases from 1.12.94 to 26.10.95; Victorian Casino Inquiry from 20.5.96 to 5.12.96.
Senate Estimates: D from 28.2.94 to 12.5.94; F from 12.5.94 to 10.10.94.
Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund from 31.5.96 to 8.2.01 (Chair from 19.6.96 to 4.6.97).
Joint Standing: Electoral Matters from 28.3.95 to 3.9.97; Treaties from 31.5.96 to 31.8.98.
Joint Select: Republic Referendum from 21.6.99 to 9.8.99.
Conferences, Delegations and Visits
Member, Parliamentary Delegation to France and Belgium, June-July 1997.
Official visits to UK, September 1999; Japan, July 2005; France and UK, March 2006; Indonesia, June 2006; France, Finland, Belgium and UK, January 2007; Indonesia, May 2007; New Zealand, May-June 2007.
Parliamentary Party Positions
Manager, Government Business in the Senate from 9.3.07 to 3.12.07.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 6.12.07 to 3.5.10.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 3.5.10.
Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 6.12.07. Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research from 6.12.07 to 8.12.09; Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations from 8.12.09.
Party Positions
President, Australian Liberal Students' Federation 1978.
State President, Liberal Party (Tas) 1990-94.
Personal
Born 25.1.1958, Stuttgart, Germany.
Married.
Qualifications and Occupation before entering Federal Parliament
BA, LLB (Tas).
Barrister and solicitor.