Comments on: Eric Abetz? WTF?

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:37:33 +0000

To have an idea of where this freak (Abetz) comes form, look in Wikipedia.

By: Kristefan

Kristefan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:42:48 +0000

Thanks for the read. Abetz is a clown, its hilarious. I think I recall the conference he is referring to in 2001. You were on another panel as well with with some senior political advisors (Oldfeild was 1) about politics being marketed like products. It was great, hot debate, at times verbally aggressive, and you certainly had their measure.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:55:41 +0000

Here are some verifiable notes on the charmer… so you know where he’s coming from:

1992 Deputy Chairman of the Association of Christian Parent Controlled Schools. (HR Nicholls Society)
Abetz’s children attended Calvin Christian School, Kingston, Tas. (Senate Hansard, 26 November 1996)
1996 Began developing close ties with Salt Shakers, a Melbourne-based fundamentalist Christian group. Abetz opened Salt Shakers’ ofﬁce in 1998, endorsing and commending their work (New Life, 24 December 1998) and was the featured speaker at the organisation’s inaugural dinner in August 2005 (Josh Gordon ‘Senator hits out at heads of church’, Melbourne Age, 29 August 2005)
1997 Both Salt Shakers and Focus on the Family (American-linked homophobic ‘pro-family’ group) strongly supported Abetz for his work on two Senate committees, one of which examined the Sexuality Discrimination Bill (seen by Focus on the Family’s Bill Muehlenberg as ‘granting special rights for homosexuals’) and Kevin Andrews’ private member’s bill seeking to overturn the Northern Territory’s voluntary euthanasia legislation. Muehlenberg told his readers that Abetz had ‘fought tirelessly’ against the ﬁrst bill, and in favour of the Andrews bill:
‘Please write to or call Eric and give him your warm support and encouragement. Please pray for him as well.’ (Family Forum, April 1997, 5)
1997 Succeeded Chris Miles MHR as Chair of the Lyons Forum, a now-defunct group of socially conservative Coalition MPs. (Lynette J. Dumble ‘The New Testament according to the Lyons Forum: an Australia bereft of abortion rights?’, Political Environments #5, Fall 1997)
1999 Scheduled speaker on the Sexuality Discrimination Bill at Endeavour Forum (ultra-conservative women’s organisation) public meeting, 11 February (meeting chaired by Bill Muehlenberg). (Endeavour Forum Newsletter, February 1999, 1)
1999 Speaker on ‘the family’ at Family Council of Victoria (a ‘front’ group dominated by the National Civic Council’s Australian Family Association) public meeting. (Salt Shakers Newsletter, May 1999, inserted ﬂyer)
2000 Speech on Christianity and the millennium prominently reprinted in Festival of Light Australia’s Light magazine (February 2000, 12), one of several times Abetz has been promoted by this long-lived ‘moral reform’ group.
2003 Abetz provides a letter of support for the Fatherhood Foundation (conservative pro-‘fathers’ rights’ organisation) in its (ultimately successful) application for tax-deductibility status. He writes that, ‘[I]n order for the Foundation’s great work to continue and grow it is imperative that funds are raised.’ (Fatherhood Foundation email newsletter, 28 April 2003) In 2004, the Australian Christian Lobby and Australian Family Association played a key role in pressing the Howard Government to amend the Marriage Act to exclude same-sex unions.
2004 Australian Christian Lobby (social conservative lobbyists) claims Abetz and fellow Tasmanian Liberal Senator Guy Barnett as ‘some of our strongest supporters’. (Australian Christian Newsletter, September 2004, 2)
2005 Opening speaker at the Right to Life Australia (major anti-abortion group) Conference, Melbourne, 9 July. Abetz addressed the audience on the anti-voluntary euthanasia Suicide-related Material Offences Act’. (Right to Life Australia News, July-August 2005, 7)

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:20:03 +0000

A nice demonstration of the widespread political contempt for the arts. ‘Artist’ was the worst smear he could think of.

By: Simeon

Simeon — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:53:18 +0000

Just incredible! I wonder how much public money was spent on one of his staffers digging up the Macarthy style Westbury file? Way too much irrelevant detail there, loses the argument, wanders all over the place to try and establish some lack of credibility for the howishouldvote site. I used that site at the time and had no idea such a formidable antichrist (sic) was behind it.

Here I paraquote:
“Seriously though, I think it is important to see the Young Liberal for what I suspect it is to Mr Abetz – a delicious study in subversive politics!”

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:02:43 +0000

…o.O

I mean, I knew the man was nuts, but seriously, wtf? XD

By: iona

iona — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:24:24 +0000

This is one of the many problems I have with some on the conservative side of politics. Are they engaging in tautology, oxymorons, or just chatting with their imaginary friends?

Clearly a logical, and evidence-based argument is too much for Senator Abetz.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:13:46 +0000

This kind of ad hominem stuff is par for the course from the hard right. Marcus, you’ll know I worked for GetUp!, a fact that I don’t expect to live down as I attempt to participate in public debate. My account of Mr Bolt of the Melbourne Herald Sun’s deployment of this information is available here

http://newmatilda.com/2009/08/18/why-are-we-paying-andrew-bolt

These kinds of incidents are pretty entertaining to me personally – but then I’m in a relatively secure job, etc. etc. It raises profound questions for all of us about the differences between character of public discourse in this country as it is, and as we might like it to be.

By: Kathryn Crosby

Kathryn Crosby — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:42:27 +0000

HSIV was a great idea and absolutely should be done, but GetUp! is the wrong vehicle for it. They have failed dismally to establish themselves as an independent organisation (and lately, as a credible one).

Regardless, Abetz’s speech is completely unjustified.

You could perhaps start your own NFP that just does that, provides media driven tools to help voters access information about their candidates?

The Democrats are rebuilding BTW – you’re welcome back any time

By: sancz

sancz — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:24:10 +0000

you doth protest too much, marcus. everybody knows that TINA really stands for ‘This Is Not Abetz’…