Eric Abetz

The Honourable
Eric Abetz
MP
The Honourable Eric Abetz MP
Abetz in 2010
Prime Minister
Federal ministries and positions
Leader of the Government in the Senate
	In office; 18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott; Malcolm Turnbull
Deputy	George Brandis
Preceded by	Penny Wong
Succeeded by	George Brandis
Minister for Employment
	In office; 18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott; Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Bill Shorten
Succeeded by	Michaelia Cash
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
	In office; 3 May 2010 – 18 September 2013
Deputy	George Brandis
Leader	Tony Abbott
Preceded by	Nick Minchin
Succeeded by	Penny Wong
Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation
	In office; 27 January 2006 – 3 December 2007
Prime Minister	John Howard
Preceded by	Ian Macdonald
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Special Minister of State
	In office; 30 January 2001 – 27 January 2006
Prime Minister	John Howard
Preceded by	Chris Ellison
Succeeded by	Gary Nairn
Senator for Tasmania
	In office; 22 February 1994 – 30 June 2022
Preceded by	Brian Archer
Succeeded by	Tammy Tyrrell
Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly; for Franklin
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 23 March 2024 Serving with 6 others
Treasurer of Tasmania
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 19 July 2025
Premier	Jeremy Rockliff
Preceded by	Guy Barnett
Leader of the House
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 11 April 2024
Premier	Jeremy Rockliff
Preceded by	Nic Street
Minister for Macquarie Point Urban Renewal
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 7 August 2025
Premier	Jeremy Rockliff
Preceded by	position created
Premier	In office; 11 April 2024 – 19 July 2025
Former state ministries
Minister for Business, Industry and Resources
	In office; 11 April 2024 – 19 July 2025
Premier	Jeremy Rockliff
Preceded by	Felix Ellis
Succeeded by	Felix Ellis
Minister for Transport
	In office; 11 April 2024 – 19 July 2025
Premier	Jeremy Rockliff
Preceded by	Michael Ferguson
Personal details
Born	25 January 1958; Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Citizenship	Australian (1974–present); West German (1958–1974)
Party	Liberal
Alma mater	University of Tasmania
Profession	Lawyer
Website	abetz.com.au

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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. 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.