Cory Bernardi

Cory Bernardi was born in Adelaide on 6 November 1969.{{cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=G0D|title=Former Senator Cory Bernardi|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=31 January 2025}} His father was an Italian immigrant who migrated to Australia in 1958.{{cite web |title=There is something clearly wrong with our current migration system |url=http://australianconservative.com/2009/08/cory-bernardi-there-is-something-clearly-wrong-with-our-current-migration-system |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106180121/http://australianconservative.com/2009/08/cory-bernardi-there-is-something-clearly-wrong-with-our-current-migration-system/ |archive-date=6 January 2014 |access-date=8 December 2014 |website=australianconservative.com}} His maternal grandfather was a trade unionist and staunch Labor supporter.{{cite web |last=Neighbour |first=Sally |date=December 2011 |title=All About Cory |url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/cory-bernardi-conservative-warrior-all-about-cory-sally-neighbour-4327 |work=The Monthly}}

Bernardi took a business and management course at South Australian Institute of Technology,{{cite web |author=Lynch, Timothy J. |date=9 December 2011 |title=In Conversation: Senator Cory Bernardi |url=http://theconversation.com/in-conversation-senator-cory-bernardi-4597 |access-date=12 April 2017 |work=The Conversation}} before winning a scholarship and furthering his rowing career at the Australian Institute of Sport in 1989.{{cite book |title=Excellence: the Australian Institute of Sport |publisher=Australian Sports Commission |year=2002 |isbn=1-74013-060-X |location=Canberra |page=103}}

After a back injury terminated his rowing career, Bernardi travelled in Europe and Africa, working as a labourer. Returning to Australia, he managed the family's hotel before spending four months in a hospital with tuberculosis. He subsequently worked as a stockbroker and financial adviser before entering politics.

Bernardi entered politics in 2006 when he was selected by the Liberal Party to fill a Senate seat vacancy for South Australia left by the resignation of Robert Hill. During his time in Parliament, Bernardi attracted controversy over several statements and views. On 7 February 2017, he announced that he would be leaving the Liberal Party to form his own party, the Australian Conservatives.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-07/bernardi-quits-the-liberal-party/8247402|title=Cory Bernardi quits the Liberal Party to establish Australian Conservatives|work=ABC News|date=7 February 2017}} In June 2019, Bernardi announced that he was disbanding the Australian Conservatives and the party was voluntarily deregistered by the Australian Electoral Commission on 25 June 2019.{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Matt |title=Australian Conservatives party scrapped |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6246917/australian-conservatives-party-scrapped/?cs=14231 |access-date=29 June 2019 |work=The Canberra Times |date=28 June 2019 }}{{cite web |title=Australian Conservatives Voluntary Deregistration |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/Party_Registration/Deregistered_parties/files/18-19-041-web-notice-s-135-voluntary-deregistration-australian-conservatives.pdf |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=29 June 2019}} Bernardi announced his resignation from politics on 19 November 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/right-wing-warrior-cory-bernardi-calls-time-on-his-political-career-20191119-p53c5l.html|title=Right-wing warrior Cory Bernardi calls time on his political career|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 November 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/cory-bernardi-to-quit-politics-on-december-5/video/e13650fd072e8533ba9646b7cf60fc6c|title=Cory Bernardi to quit politics on December 5|publisher=News.com.au|date=19 November 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.net.au/story/6527096/former-lib-senator-cory-bernardi-signs-off/ |title = Former Lib senator Cory Bernardi signs off {{!}} The Standard {{!}} Warrnambool, VIC| date=4 December 2019 }} and on 20 January 2020 resigned from the Senate with immediate effect.{{cite news |title=Former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi resigns, effective immediately |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/cory-bernardi-resigns-sets-off-liberal-preselection-battle-south-australia/d8e3fed1-8735-498a-a22d-10a2a1605f52 |access-date=20 January 2020 |work=9News |date=20 January 2020}}

After leaving the Senate, Bernardi became a commentator and podcaster with Sky News Australia.{{cite web | url=https://www.skynews.com.au/listen/bernardi-podcast | title=Sky News Australia }}

Bernardi made state representative appearances for South Australia in the State Youth VIII at the Australian Rowing Championships in 1987 and 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/interstate-championships/1987.php#MYth|title=1987 Interstate Championships – Australian Rowing History|work=rowinghistory-aus.info|access-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020011556/http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/interstate-championships/1987.php#MYth|archive-date=20 October 2018|url-status=dead}} In 1988, as part of a Mercantile Rowing Club eight, he won the Ladies' Challenge Plate—open to 2nd grade/varsity/college crews below the heavyweight international standard—at the Henley Royal Regatta in England.[http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/club-histories/mercantile/22-5.php History of Mercantile Rowing Club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040209/http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/club-histories/mercantile/22-5.php |date=6 January 2014 }}, rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 8 December 2014.

In 1989, Bernardi was selected in the seven seat of the South Australian Men's Senior VIII. Unfortunately, the nationals interstate events that year were cancelled when a cyclone hit the Wellington Dam course in WA, part-way through the programme of events. Three weeks later at Carrum in Victoria, Bernardi's South Australian crew placed second in an unofficial men's eight race attended by the Victorian, Western Australian and South Australian crews who raced for the Patten Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/interstate-championships/1989.php#Patten |title=1989 Interstate Championships – Australian Rowing History |work=rowinghistory-aus.info |access-date=17 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708133854/http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/interstate-championships/1989.php#Patten |archive-date=8 July 2018 |url-status=dead }} That same year Bernardi became an Australian national representative when he was selected in the three seat of the coxless four which competed at the 1989 World Rowing Championships in Bled—formerly of Yugoslavia but what is now the Republic of Slovenia—and placed tenth.[http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-championships/1989-Bled.html Bernardi performance in the 1989 World Rowing Championships] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116182637/http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-championships/1989-Bled.html |date=16 January 2013 }}, rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 8 December 2014. Later that year Bernardi suffered a back injury that effectively ended his rowing career.{{Failed verification|date=August 2020}}

After South Australian Senator Robert Hill resigned from the Senate to become Ambassador to the United Nations in March 2006, Bernardi was selected by the Liberal Party to fill the vacancy, officially commencing his senate term on 4 May 2006.{{cite web|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;page=0;query=cory%20bernardi;rec=1;resCount=Default |title=VACANCY IN THE REPRESENTATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA—CHOICE OF CORY BERNARDI |work=Parlinfo Web |author=Parliament of Australia |date=4 May 2006|access-date=19 September 2016}} On 17 February 2007, Bernardi was pre-selected ahead of Simon Birmingham and Senator Grant Chapman by the State Council of the South Australian Liberal Party to be the number one candidate on the South Australian Liberal Senate ticket for the federal election {{citation needed|date=February 2012}} to be held in late 2007. At the election, Bernardi was elected to a full six-year term. He was again given the first place on the Liberal ticket at the 2013 federal election and was re-elected. Following a double dissolution of Parliament at the 2016 federal election, Bernardi was re-elected from the second place on the Liberal ticket. He was elected for a term of six years, ending on 30 June 2022.

In December 2007, Bernardi was appointed the federal Coalition's Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services. On 19 March 2008, Bernardi was named in a story published in The Australian newspaper as having been linked to a scheme that sold financial advice on how divorcees could hide money from their former spouses.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23399707-2702,00.html|title=Cash-hiding plan linked to Lib MP|access-date=18 March 2008|work=The Australian|first=Patricia|last=Karvelas|date=19 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319012609/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23399707-2702,00.html|archive-date=19 March 2008|url-status=dead}} In a media statement released shortly after the article was published, Bernardi described the story as "a rehash of a factually incorrect story that first appeared in 2006 before my appointment to the Senate." Bernardi claimed that he had been "made aware that a colleague [had] been approaching numerous journalists in an attempt to 'push' this matter as a means of personally attacking me." In a statement he went on to say, "I find it disappointing that there are people who clearly pine to background journalists with half-truths and mischievous suggestions in an attempt to smear others. The people who creep out of their darkened closets to resurrect previously discredited accusations do no service to themselves or the community. Politics is a battle of ideas, not a battle of smears."{{cite web |url=http://www.senatorbernardi.com/2008/03/statement-relat.html |title=Statement (by Bernardi) Relating to Article In 'The Australian' |date=March 2008 |access-date=22 August 2008 |publisher=senatorbernardi.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716040143/http://www.senatorbernardi.com/2008/03/statement-relat.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=usurped }}

On 20 March 2008, Bernardi introduced a motion calling for a Senate inquiry into swearing on television and the effectiveness of the Code of Practice after a television show was broadcast at 8.30 pm containing the word "fuck" eighty times in 40 minutes.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/tv/ramsays-f-words-called-foul/story-e6frexlr-1111115849741|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=21 March 2008|author=Justin Vallejo|title=Ramsay's f-words called foul}} The Senate supported the motion. Then in June, Bernardi stated his personal view on onlineopinion.com.au regarding a proposed reform relating to same-sex relationships. He stated, "Same-sex relationships are not the same as marital relationships and to treat them the same is to suspend common sense."{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=7531|title=Don't confuse marriage with discrimination – On Line Opinion – 24/6/2008|work=onlineopinion.com.au|access-date=17 September 2016}} A month later, Bernardi questioned the ethics of granting human rights to great apes while ignoring the rights of the unborn child{{cite web |author= Bernardi, Cory |date= 15 July 2008 |url= http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2304181.htm |title= Monkeying Around with Human Rights |publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date= 8 December 2014 }} on the ABC "unleashed" website.

In August 2008, the Herald Sun newspaper reported that the Federal Parliamentary Library had, following a request from Bernardi, identified a loophole in government legislation that allowed some women who aborted their pregnancies to claim a $5,000 "baby bonus". The Government later stated that the bonus was not available for aborted pregnancies and was committed to following up on any such occurrences.[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24248496-2,00.html "Loophole allows baby bonus for late abortions"], news.com.au. Retrieved 8 December 2014. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915210746/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24248496-2,00.html |date=15 September 2008 }}

In September 2008, new Federal Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull appointed Bernardi the Coalition Spokesman for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector.{{cite web |url=http://www.senatorbernardi.com/2008/09/senator-bernard.html |title=Media Release |access-date=22 August 2008 |publisher=senatorbernardi.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716040242/http://www.senatorbernardi.com/2008/09/senator-bernard.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=usurped }} In October, Bernardi caused a stir with a speech to the Senate against the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws-Superannuation) Bill 2008[http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr3011%22 Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws-Superannuation) Bill 2008], parlinfo.aph.gov.au supported by the Liberal Party. The bill led to discontent within the Party's conservative faction—of which Bernardi was a key figure. Turnbull was "unhappy that Party authority was being challenged" by Bernardi.{{cite news |url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/turnbull-calls-for-unity-on-gay-laws/2008/10/16/1223750232676.html |title= Turnbull calls for unity on gay laws |work= The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date= 8 December 2014 |date=17 October 2008 |author=Coorey, Phillip}} In Bernardi's speech, he complained that society should not "throw open the doors and welcome into the fold those whose relationships are uncharacteristic of the most basic elements of a marital union."[http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/dailys/ds151008.pdf Senate Hansard], aph.gov.au. Retrieved 8 December 2014. The next morning Turnbull rang Bernardi to "chip him", having felt the speech was intemperate in tone and that it went against the party line and Turnbull's own leadership.[http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/social-values-prove-to-be-turnbulls-first-test/2008/10/19/1224351052166.html?page=2 "Social values prove to be Turnbull's first test"], The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 October 2008.

Bernardi was removed from the Shadow Ministry by Turnbull in February 2009 after reportedly making unsubstantiated claims regarding a fellow Liberal MP in his weekly blog. Recalling an encounter with the Liberal MP at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club about 14 years before, he wrote:

In response to my question of why he joined the Liberal Party, the MP blithely responded "I live in a Liberal seat so I had to be a member of the Liberal Party to get into Parliament. If I lived in a Labor seat I would have joined the Labor Party." Frankly I was aghast at this response. Where was the conviction, the beliefs, the values that I believe should motivate our political leaders? Several follow up questions disclosed that the only motivation for his own political involvement was for him to become Prime Minister.

The MP involved was thought to be Christopher Pyne, who denied the allegations as "preposterous".{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/19/2496186.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221020801/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/19/2496186.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 February 2009|title=Turnbull sacks SA Senator Bernardi|date=19 February 2009|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=17 September 2016}}[http://www.smh.com.au/national/turnbull-sacks-frontbencher-for-turning-on-pyne-20090219-8c7r.html "Turnbull sacks frontbencher for turning on Pyne"], The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 February 2009.{{cite news |url= http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/turnbull-sacks-frontbencher-over-blog/1439188.aspx |title= Turnbull sacks frontbencher over blog |work= The Canberra Times |date= 20 February 2009 |access-date= 20 February 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090221192617/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/turnbull-sacks-frontbencher-over-blog/1439188.aspx |archive-date= 21 February 2009 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}

Following the election of Tony Abbott as the leader of the federal Liberal Party in late 2009, Bernardi was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Population Policy, and in August 2012 was appointed Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate. In September 2012, Bernardi resigned from his position as parliamentary secretary as a result of statements he had made the day before, when he argued that permitting same-sex marriages would lead to legalised polygamy and bestiality.Cullen, Simon. (19 September 2012) [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-19/controversy-over-cory-bernardi-bestiality-comments/4269604 Bernardi resigns after bestiality comment], Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 September 2012.

In January 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott again distanced himself from Bernardi after the latter called for a new debate on abortion, called for more flexible industrial relations laws, stated his belief in the primacy of the traditional family and claimed that non-traditional families may cause negative social outcomes,{{cite news|last=Harrison|first=Dan|title=Senator Cory Bernardi's call for new abortion debate sidestepped by PM|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/senator-cory-bernardis-call-for-new-abortion-debate-sidestepped-by-pm-20140106-30dmz.html|access-date=7 January 2014|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=7 January 2014}} linked a secular polity with Australia having lost its way, and claimed that Christianity was under siege from both the political Greens and Islam.{{cite news|last=Porter|first=Andrew|title=The real danger in Cory Bernardi's comments|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-07/porter-the-real-danger-in-cory-bernardi-comments/5189168|work=The Drum|date=7 January 2014 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=7 January 2014}}

Bernardi was re-elected for a six-year term in the Senate at the July 2016 election.{{cite web|url=http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenateStateFirstPrefs-20499-SA.htm |title=Senate: First preferences by candidate |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |date=5 August 2016 |access-date=7 February 2017}}

In September 2016, Bernardi spoke in favour of the repeal of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which prohibits speech that is reasonably likely to "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate on the basis of race, colour or national or ethnic origin".{{cite news |work=The Age |author= Massola, James |date= 30 August 2016 |url= http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/this-is-not-about-challenging-the-pm-cory-bernardi-leads-18c-push-20160830-gr4f38.html |title= 'This is not about challenging the PM': Cory Bernardi leads 18C push }}{{cite news |work= The Age |author= Peatling, Stephanie |date= 4 September 2016 |url= http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cory-bernardi-says-he-wont-be-dissuaded-on-attempts-to-rewrite-section-of-racial-discrimination-act-20160903-gr88gt.html |title= Cory Bernardi says he won't be dissuaded on attempts to rewrite section of Racial Discrimination Act }} In December 2016 Bernardi got into a public spat with former prime minister Tony Abbott over reports that Bernardi may start his own party.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-30/abbott-bernardi-trade-barbs-over-future-of-liberal-party/8154380 |title=Abbott and Bernardi trade barbs over conservative unrest |date=30 December 2016 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-22/turnbull-frontbenchers-brush-off-rebel-backbenchers'-threats/8141020 |title=Turnbull frontbenchers brush off rebel backbenchers' threats |date=22 December 2016 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

In the same month, it was reported that Bernardi in 2009 set up an entity called the Conservative Leadership Foundation, "a fundraising entity that inhabits a grey area in the political donations system and permits gifts from foreign donors." and that "it has never made a disclosure to the Australian Electoral Commission as an associated entity, nor disclosed any political expenditure."The Age, Gina McColl, 5 September 2016: [http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/sam-dastyaris-accuser-cory-bernardi-has-his-own-questionable-fundraising-body-20160907-graxk7.html?logout=true Sam Dastyari's accuser Cory Bernardi has his own questionable fundraising body]

In February 2017, seven months after the 2016 election, Bernardi left the Liberal Party to form a separate party, the Australian Conservatives, which was born out of Bernardi's Australian Conservatives movement.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/cory-bernardi-rogue-senator-defects-to-go-it-all-alone/news-story/eadcb95a5d435986a4ecdcb96bb78439|title=Cory Bernardi Rogue Senator defects to go it all alone|date=7 February 2017|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=7 February 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Massola|first1=James|title=Cory Bernardi breaks silence, quits the Liberal Party in Senate speech|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cory-bernardi-breaks-silence-quits-the-liberal-party-in-senate-speech-20170207-gu750g.html|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=7 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207044640/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cory-bernardi-breaks-silence-quits-the-liberal-party-in-senate-speech-20170207-gu750g.html|archive-date=7 February 2017|date=7 February 2017}} The Australian Conservatives movement was formed by Bernardi in July 2016 to "unite conservatives",The Age, Deborah Snow, 13 August 2016: [http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/senator-cory-bernardis-conservative-movement-shares-1-million-headquarters-20160812-gqr8d9.html Senator Cory Bernardi's conservative movement shares $1 million headquarters]{{cite web|last1=Karp|first1=Paul|title=Cory Bernardi establishes rightwing movement Australian Conservatives|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jul/06/cory-bernardi-establishes-rightwing-movement-australian-conservatives|website=The Guardian|access-date=7 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207030534/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jul/06/cory-bernardi-establishes-rightwing-movement-australian-conservatives|archive-date=7 February 2017|date=6 July 2016}} and which by August claimed 50,000 members.{{cite news |last=McIlroy |first=Tom |title=Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives group signs up 50,000 people online |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cory-bernardis-australian-conservatives-group-signs-up-50000-people-online-20160801-gqin07.html?logout=true |access-date=18 September 2016 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2 August 2016}}

In June 2019, Bernardi announced that the Australian Conservatives would apply to be voluntarily deregistered with the Australian Electoral Commission. He cited a poor result in the 2019 Australian federal election, and that the removal of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister meant that his supporters would return to the Liberal Party. The AEC confirmed the party had been deregistered on 25 June 2019.

In November 2019, Bernardi announced that he would resign from his Senate position; his resignation formally occurred on 20 January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-20/cory-bernardi-formally-resigns-from-politics/11883774|title=Cory Bernardi resigns from politics after 13-year career, handing his seat to the Liberal Party|date=20 January 2020|work=ABC News}} Because he was elected as a member of the Liberal Party, a member of that party would fill the vacancy caused by his resignation. The former President of the South Australian Legislative Council Andrew McLachlan filled Bernardi's vacancy on 6 February 2020.

{{Conservatism in Australia|Politicians}}

Prior to forming the Australian Conservatives, Bernardi was a member of the conservative faction or right-wing of the Liberal Party.{{Cite news|title=Cory Bernardi sacked from Coalition's junior shadow ministry|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/senior-liberal-sacked-for-disloyalty/news-story/c3c7a5fea213b583175deeb7311d0376}}

On 21 April 2007, Bernardi published an essay questioning whether global warming was caused by human activities. Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other Liberal parliamentarians promptly distanced themselves from his views.{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21602393-910,00.html|title=Libs snub Bernardi climate call|work=The Advertiser|date=23 April 2007|access-date=8 December 2014|first1=Laura|last1=Anderson|first2=Paul|last2=Starick}}

Bernardi has been publicly critical of Islam.{{cite news|last=Harvey, Michael|first=Lewis, Steve|title=Islam's the problems, not Muslims, says Senator Cory Bernardi|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/islams-the-problems-not-muslims-says-senator-cory-bernardi/story-e6frfkvr-1226008540417|access-date=21 April 2012|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=19 February 2011}}{{cite news|last=Welch|first=Dylan|title=Senator strikes sour note with demand for Muslim denunciation|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/senator-strikes-sour-note-with-demand-for-muslim-denunciation-20110907-1jxwf.html|access-date=21 April 2012|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 September 2011}} In 2010, he wrote an opinion piece calling for a ban on wearing the burqa in public.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/for-australias-sake-we-need-to-ban-the-burqa-20100506-ubun.html|title=For Australia's sake, we need to ban the burqa|last=Bernardi|first=Cory|date=6 May 2010|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=6 May 2010}}

In 2011, Bernardi opined that it was "wrong" for the government to pay for funeral expenses for asylum-seekers. He also said that "Islam itself is the problem—it's not Muslims", and that multiculturalism had failed. He later clarified his view, saying that it was "the fundamentalist Islamic approach of changing laws and values does not have my support."{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/abbott-rejects-mps-islam-remark-20110218-1azwi.html|location=Melbourne|work=The Age|title=Abbott rejects MP's Islam remark|date=19 February 2011}} For these comments he received death threats.[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/islams-the-problems-not-muslims-says-senator-cory-bernardi/story-e6frea8c-1226008475170 "Islam's the problems, not Muslims, says Senator Cory Bernardi"], The Advertiser (Adelaide); 19 February 2011. Subscription only. Liberal leader Tony Abbott distanced himself from the comments.[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/liberal-death-threat-email-over-multicultural-stand/story-fn6b3v4f-1226008430524 Liberal death threat via email], The Daily Telegraph, 19 February 2011.

Bernardi has shared values with Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, whom he met while on a trip to Europe.{{cite web|title=All About Cory – Cory Bernardi, Conservative Warrior|url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2011/december/1348009680/sally-neighbour/all-about-cory|work=The Monthly|access-date=7 June 2013|author=Sally Neighbour|date=December 2011}} Bernardi offered to assist Wilders in a visit to Australia but, in February 2013 when Wilders did come, Bernardi did not meet with him. Wilders stated in an interview that Bernardi's decision not to meet him was a "sad but true" reflection on politics, particularly in an election year.{{cite web|title=Anti-Islam campaigner coming to Australia|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3689995.htm|work=Lateline|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=6 June 2013|date=13 February 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/gillard-is-coalitions-preferred-pm/story-e6frgd0x-1226135168272|first=Niki|last=Savva|title=Gillard is Coalition's preferred PM|access-date=8 December 2014|work=The Australian}}

In September 2016, Bernardi proposed that the Turnbull government take up a modified version of the immigration policy of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, aiming to mollify people fearing Muslim immigration as he felt soft immigration policies were to blame for a fall in government support.{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cory-bernardi-urges-government-to-adopt-delicate-nuanced-versions-of-one-nation-policy-20160927-grpv5m.html |date=27 September 2016 |title=Cory Bernardi urges government to adopt 'delicate, nuanced' versions of One Nation policy |author=Hunter, Fergus |access-date=27 September 2016 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} In February 2017, he attracted criticism for speaking at the Q Society of Australia. The event received protests who called the event "racist".{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-10/protesters-disrupt-q-society-anti-islam-group-meeting/8261030 |title=Anti-Islam group Q Society dinner disrupted by protesters in Melbourne |work=ABC News |date=10 February 2017 |access-date=1 July 2019}}

In 2013 Bernardi expressed his concern over the effect of Australia's public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, on commercial operators. His view was that the ABC had grown beyond its initial charter and its size was unjustifiably encroaching into the online news sphere at the expense of commercial operators and media diversity. However, he supported the continued existence of ABC iView and ABC podcasting services, and agreed that the ABC provides useful services to regional areas often under-serviced by commercial operators.{{cite web|last=Kelly|first=Fran|title=Cory Bernardi: ABC 'cannibalising' commercial online news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/cory-bernardi-calls-to-wind-back-the-abcs-online-presence/5133174|work=Radio National|date=3 December 2013 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=6 January 2014}}

Bernardi has said that permitting same-sex marriages would lead to legalised polygamy and bestiality; and said that the "safe schools program" designed to make homosexual children feel safer at school "bullies" heterosexual children.{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/outspoken-senator-cory-bernardi-says-safe-schools-program-bullies-heterosexual-children/news-story/083a86ba9c4b3d63fa3d8e0e6903f39a|title=Subscribe to The Advertiser|website=The Advertiser|location=Adelaide|access-date=14 January 2017 |url-access =subscription }} Several of his colleagues from the Liberal Party at the time distanced themselves from Bernardi's comments, including Tony Abbott, who also opposes same-sex marriage. Bernardi was one of twelve senators who voted against what became the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017.{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/samesex-marriage-bill-set-to-pass-the-senate/news-story/77e3a18b6f990ee542a96d9e75ff0c5d |title=Senate passes same-sex marriage bill |newspaper=News.com.au |date=29 November 2017 |access-date=9 January 2018}}

Bernardi is anti-abortion, saying those who support it are "pro death".

{{Cite news |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-keeps-distance-from-cory-bernardi-abortion-comments-20140106-30dn3.html |title=Tony Abbott keeps distance from Cory Bernardi abortion comments |last=Harrison|first=Dan |date=7 January 2014 |access-date=14 January 2017 |archive-date=24 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624185200/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-keeps-distance-from-cory-bernardi-abortion-comments-20140106-30dn3.html|url-status=live}}

{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/liberal-senator-cory-bernardi-under-more-fire-from-within-party-20140108-30hl4.html |title=Liberal senator Cory Bernardi under more fire from within party |last=Harrison|first=Dan |date= 9 January 2014 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date= 14 January 2017}}

{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cory-bernardi-calls-for-debate-on-abortion-in-controversial-new-book-20140106-30cob.html |title=Cory Bernardi calls for debate on abortion in controversial new book |last=Harrison|first=Dan |date= 6 January 2014 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date= 14 January 2017}} On 16 November 2017, Bernardi moved a motion in the Senate to ban abortion on gender grounds. He was one of the 10 senators who voted in favour of the motion, which was defeated 10 votes to 36.

[https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/senate/2017-11-16/2 Motions – Abortion – Gender grounds], 16 November 2017, theyvoteforyou.org.au. Retrieved 4 March 2018.{{cite news |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-16/bernardi-making-provocative-motions-hanson-young-fires-up/9158076 |title= Cory Bernardi is using provocative motions to make ideological points in the Senate |author= Yaxley, Louise |date= 16 November 2017 |work= ABC News |access-date= 4 March 2018 }}

Bernardi supports the legalisation of nuclear fuel cycle activities in Australia which, as of November 2017, are prohibited under the EPBC Act and ARPANS Act. In November 2017, he presented the Nuclear Fuel Cycle (Facilitation) Bill in the Senate to repeal these prohibitions, effectively enabling future proposals for activities such as: nuclear waste importation, storage and disposal, nuclear power generation, further processing of uranium and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/bernardi-seeks-to-lift-ban-on-nukes/news-story/06ef1d96c74c833146722aaeb88c3248|title=Bernardi seeks to lift ban on nukes|last=Owen|first=Michael|date=13 November 2017|work=The Australian|access-date=30 November 2017}}

Bernardi is the author of The Conservative Revolution, published in 2013.{{cite book|title=The Conservative Revolution|publisher=Connor Court Press|year=2013|location=Ballarat}}

On 28 September 2015, Tony Jones, host of the television program Q&A on ABC, referred to "Cory Bernardi's Golden Dawn or something" in the context of the prospect of Bernardi forming his own political party.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRRdszInPKE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/WRRdszInPKE |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title= Conservatives, China & Chris Brown – Q&A 28 September 2015 |website=YouTube |access-date=28 April 2020}}{{cbignore}} The Greek political party Golden Dawn has been characterised as neo-fascist. ABC later stated that the words were intended only as shorthand for a new conservative party and not to suggest that Bernardi shared the views of Golden Dawn.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-16/cory-bernardi/6861540 |title=Cory Bernardi |date=16 October 2015 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=17 September 2016}}[http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s4303400.htm QandA], Monday 5 October 2015, ABC TV

In February 2016, Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten labelled Bernardi a "homophobe".{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/at-least-im-not-a-homophobe-bill-shorten-in-tense-exchange-with-cory-bernardi-20160223-gn1xdl.html|title='At least I'm not a homophobe': Bill Shorten in tense press conference exchange with Cory Bernardi |first=Fergus|last=Hunter |date=24 February 2016 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=17 September 2016}} In March, student protesters trashed Bernardi's Adelaide office and wrote slogans such as "stop homophobia" after Bernardi raised concerns about the content of the Safe Schools Program. Bernardi claimed the program was indoctrinating minors.{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/protesters-trash-cory-bernardis-adelaide-office/news-story/8c435956291f368add18f0fa92410052 |title=Protesters trash Cory Bernardi's Adelaide office |author=Shepherd, Tory |date=18 March 2016 |work=The Advertiser |access-date=19 March 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/politics/senator-cory-bernardis-office-trashed-by-protesters/news-story/aa8176a1d91f6b7bb2fac5575cf87365 |title=Senator Cory Bernardi's office trashed by protesters |date=18 March 2016 |work=News Ltd |access-date=19 March 2016}}

Bernardi was criticised for comments regarding the role of women in the military.{{cite web |url= https://www.sbs.com.au/news/women-in-combat-dangerous-cory-bernardi |title= Women in combat dangerous: Cory Bernardi |date= 5 February 2018 |website=SBS News |access-date=4 March 2018}} Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds called Bernardi a "disgrace" in response to Bernardi's condemnation of women seeking combat roles in the military.{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/disgrace-bernardi-lashed-for-women-in-combat-roles-comments |title= 'Disgrace': Bernardi lashed for women in combat roles comments |date= 5 February 2018 |website=SBS News |access-date=4 March 2018}}

Bernardi is a conservative Catholic Christian.{{cite web |last=Torrisi |first=Luke |date=12 January 2014 |title=First 'Shots Fired' in Australia's Culture War, 2014 |url=http://sydneytrads.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/torrisi-8/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330011259/https://sydneytrads.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/torrisi-8/ |archive-date=30 March 2019 |access-date=15 July 2014 |work=SydneyTrads}} He and his Irish-born wife Sinéad, an economics graduate, have two sons.{{cite web |title=Panellist Cory Bernardi |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2702497.htm |access-date=6 January 2014 |work=Q&A |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [http://www.corybernardi.com Official website: CoryBernardi.com]
• [http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=G0D Official biography: Parliament of Australia]
• [https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/cory_bernardi Summary of parliamentary voting for Senator Cory Bernardi on TheyVoteForYou.org.au]

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