THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A TASMANIAN LIBERAL STALWART

JANUARY 25, 1958: Eric Abetz born in Stuttgart, Germany. 1961: Migrates to Tasmania with parents and five siblings.

1974: Becomes an Australian citizen.

1977: Studies Arts and Law at the University of Tasmania and joins the Liberal Party.

1979: Becomes president of the University Liberal Club and then the Australian Liberal Students Federation. Works as a lawyer and becomes partner of Abetz, Curtis and Dutton.

1984: Stands unsuccessfully as a Liberal Senate candidate.

1987: Premier Robin Gray lobbies against Mr Abetz becoming Liberal president.

1989: Becomes state president of the Liberal Party.

November 1991: Loses ballot and becomes third Senate nomination for 1993 election.

December 1991: Criticised by Robin Gray over the ascension of Ray Groom to premiership.

22 February 1994: Fills a casual Senate vacancy, replacing Burnie senator Brian Archer.

1998: Re-elected to the Senate in Howard Government.

1998: Appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence.

2001: Becomes Special Minister of State, a role he holds until 2006.

2002: Involved in major stoush with Liberal rising star Greg Barns over refugee policy. Mr Barns was disendorsed in Denison.

2003: Wins preselection battle against Guy Barnett for top spot on the Senate ticket.

2004: Re-elected with 137,741 first preference votes — highest number in Tasmanian history.

2007: Manager of Government Business in the Senate until 2007 election.

2007: Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

2009-13: Opposition spokesman for Employment and Workplace Relations.

June 2009: Pursues the Godwin Grech fake email affair and ultimately apologises to Senate.

December 2009: Backs Tony Abbott in leadership contest against Malcolm Turnbull and Joe Hockey taking with him three of four Liberal senators.

2010: Re-elected with 97,994 votes and appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

2010: A High Court challenge alleging he was a dual citizen, which he denied, dropped.

2013: Leader of the Government in the Senate. Minister for Employment and Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service.

2014: Drops a measure requiring job seekers to make 40 job applications a month.

2015: Backs Mr Abbott in leadership contest and manages universal support among seven Tasmanian MPs and senators.