Eric Abetz officially loses senate seat after 28-year stint for Liberals

After more than 28 years in the job, Eric Abetz has officially lost his senate seat. Here’s how he reacted. >>>

Friday, June 17: Veteran Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has lost his seat after 28 eventful years in Canberra – but he’s declared he still has “much petrol in the tank and a desire to serve”.

The 64-year-old faced an uphill battle to retain his seat following a bitterly fought preselection contest last year, which saw him relegated to the virtually unwinnable third spot on the Liberal Senate ticket.

On Thursday afternoon, Senator Abetz, whose term expires at the end of this month, finally learnt his fate, with the Australian Electoral Commission completing the Tasmanian Senate count.

Picking up the sixth seat was Jacqui Lambie Network candidate Tammy Tyrrell.

Liberal Senator Eric Abetz votes at his old school Blackmans Bay Primary School. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Senator Abetz told the Mercury he was “heartened” that 15,414 people had given him their first preference votes, saying he hoped it made the party’s preselectors reflect on their decision to bump him down the ticket.

“The rank-and-file could overwhelmingly not believe it or understand how it occurred,” he said. “But it did occur and what has now happened was, I think, foreseeable from that.”

A minister in both the Howard and Abbott governments, Senator Abetz listed some of his proudest achievements as helping deliver the Bass Strait Passenger Equalisation Scheme and an extension to the runway at Hobart Airport.

The senator said he was “thankful” that he had been able to help constituents resolve their conflicts with the bureaucracy over the years and assist community organisations facing adversity.

“(I have) lots of very happy memories where I would like to think I made a worthwhile contribution,” Senator Abetz said.

A lawyer by trade, the senator said he didn’t yet know what the future had in store for him.

“There continues to be much petrol in the tank and a desire to serve,” he said.

Jacqui Lambie's (right) office manager Tammy Tyrrell (left), the new senator for Tasmania. Picture: Supplied

“I am now officially on the job market, I suppose.

“Everything’s up in the air so I’m not going to say yes or no to anything or any possibility. But hopefully the future has something for me to occupy my time.”

Liberals Jonathon Duniam and Wendy Askew retained their seats, as did Labor senators Anne Urquhart and Helen Polley, and Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who picked up the highest number of first preference votes of any Tasmanian Senate candidate.

“The Greens’ Senate quota in Tassie has officially come in at 15.48 per cent,” he said. “This is our party’s highest Senate result across all of Australia.

“This magnificent result is down to all those who worked hard and supported the Greens this election: supporters, volunteers, staff, candidates, and so many others.”

Thursday, June 16: Outgoing Liberal senator Eric Abetz has described his long political career as “a privilege to serve my fellow Tasmanians.”

The Australian Electoral Commission has finalised its count of the 2022 federal election and has confirmed Mr Abetz has lost his position, bringing to an end an almost three-decade Senate career, which began in February 1994.

His ousting had been forecast after Mr Abetz had been previously relegated to the third position on the Liberals ticket, behind Jonno Duniam and Wendy Askew, who have both been returned.

Liberal Senator Eric Abetz votes at his old school Blackmans Bay Primary School. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Despite his loss, Mr Abetz remained determined about the future.

“There continues to be much petrol in the tank and a desire to serve,” he said.

On Thursday, Mr Abetz issued the following statement:

“Congratulations to Tasmania’s newly elected and re-elected Senators. I wish them well.

“It is both a privilege and an exceptionally onerous task to look after the welfare of our 500,000 plus fellow Tasmanians, as well as a $2 trillion Australian economy and our 25 million fellow Australians.

“Senate voting is overwhelmingly seen by Tasmanians as a party vote with the vast majority of Tasmanians opting to vote for parties above the line as opposed to individual candidates below the line.

“Therefore, to have been honoured with well over 15,000 personal votes by my fellow Tasmanians is something for which I will always be most appreciative. Those 15,000 plus votes represent 13 per cent of the Tasmanian Liberal vote, without which the Party would not have gained two quotas.

A young Eric Abetz in parliament.

“It is also appropriate to observe that the last time I had the honour of leading the Liberal Senate ticket I easily outpolled the Labor Senate ticket leader with below the line votes. At this election the same Labor Senate ticket leader easily outpolled the Liberal Senate ticket leader with personal below the line votes.

“It has been a privilege to serve my fellow Tasmanians. I am thankful for the opportunities afforded me to assist my fellow Tasmanians through a range of issues, especially in their battle with bureaucracy. It was pleasing to be able to assist and make a difference in so many individual lives.

“Being able to deliver for Tasmanians, be it for the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme which transformed our tourism sector, upgrading Freight Equalisation support to include exports, for road funding, irrigation schemes and airports, or gaining assistance for community groups, schools, and local councils has also been exceptionally rewarding.

“Serving in the Howard and Abbott Ministries and as Senate Leader were expressions of support and confidence which I cherished.

“In more recent times, in a non-ministerial role I was able to lead the policy debate in the then government on issues as diverse as compensation for those who have suffered serious adverse reactions to Covid jabs, to opposing the proposed extradition treaty with China, to gaining equity for parents who suffered through multiple stillbirths to Magnitsky legislation to stop Australia being used as a safe haven for corrupt and human rights abusing officials from other countries.

“Throughout my time as a Senator (apart from the last three years) I had the blessing of the best life partner God could ever have given me in Michelle. I will be forever thankful and indebted. I thank my children and extended family for their forbearance and support.

“I’m indebted to the overwhelming support of the Liberal Party membership which continues.

“There continues to be much petrol in the tank and a desire to serve.”

Originally published as Eric Abetz officially loses senate seat after 28-year stint for Liberals