Sarah Henderson

Henderson has generally taken pro-environment positions and has advocated for measures to tackle climate change and increase the uptake of renewable energy,[12] positions that run contrary to many within the Liberal Party. During her 2016 Federal Election campaign, she identified the environment as one of her key issues. In 2017, she sold off her share holdings.

As the member for Corangamite, Henderson campaigned strongly against coal-seam gas mining (fracking) in Victoria's south-west as well as against a planned drilling campaign in the Great Australian Bight.[13] However, following losing her seat at the 2019 Federal Election and being appointed to fill a casual senate vacancy, she urged Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to lift the moratorium on conventional on-shore gas mining, saying to the Senate "Victoria is at a tipping point, facing blackouts over summer, with now the highest electricity prices in the nation. We need more dispatchable power - taking gas out of the Otway Basin onshore, as the state permits offshore, is desperately required."[14][15]

By 2020, Henderson had taken a more rightward shift on the issue of climate change describing local MPs in the Geelong region as "climate action zealots" while also coming out in support of coal mining and gas.[16]

Henderson has made calls for the strengthening of foreign investment rules, and opposes foreign ownership of vital assets, saying that "Australia's critical infrastructure assets, such as airports, power stations, data networks, communications infrastructure and ports - including the Port of Darwin - should simply not be falling into foreign hands."[14]

Henderson supports a review into the allocation of water permits in the Murray-Darling Basin. "We must always ask what more we can do - whether it be a serious review of environmental water allocations for the Murray or new water trading rules to combat the corporate water hoarders and price takers."[14]

Henderson also supports the construction of new dams, saying water "storage infrastructure is vital and in contrast to the NSW Government, the Victorian Government was refusing to green light any new dam".[14]

Henderson opposes the transfer of asylum seekers to Australia on medical grounds. On the medevac legislation, she states that "there is no need for this bill ... this is all about politics. We are very very concerned ... it's unnecessary and it's all about politics and not about substance", while previously stating that those requiring medical treatment could already access assistance on Manus Island and Nauru.[17]

Henderson has generally upheld the party line on boat turnbacks.

Henderson supported public health measures, including restrictions, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community, but stated while Victorians understood the need for health restrictions, including those made using State of Emergency powers, restrictions must be proportionate to the public health risk, justifiable and temporary. She also said that she had "raised deep concerns about some restrictions which have closed businesses on what appears to be arbitrary and inconsistent grounds".[18]

In September 2020, Henderson described Victoria's roadmap out of COVID-19 restrictions as a "journey of despair".[19]

Henderson is generally a moderate, a 'small-l-liberal', when it comes to social issues.

She was a supporter of same-sex marriage in Australia.[20] In a statement, released in June 2015, she stated that marriage equality "is consistent with fundamental Liberal values which embrace freedom of the individual and stable, long-term relationships". She also advocated for a free vote on the floor of parliament on the issue for Coalition MPs.

By 2017, under the Prime Ministership of Malcolm Turnbull leading up to a discussion on the marriage equality plebiscite within the Liberal Party room, Henderson shifted in favour of the plebiscite, stating that the plebiscite concept had "resonated very positively in the community".[21]

Henderson is pro-choice on the issue of abortion, which has drawn ire from more conservative elements within the Victorian Liberal Party.[22] Nonetheless, on the floor of Parliament, on the question on whether the federal government should ensure that all Australians have access to abortion services, Henderson has almost always voted along party lines.[23]

Henderson is opposed to voluntary euthanasia. In October 2017, she Tweeted an article written by former Prime Minister Paul Keating arguing against such legislation, adding that Victoria's euthanasia bill would "embed a culture of dying" in the state.[24]

Upon taking her Senate seat, Henderson was eligible for a $100,000 payout for serving two terms as an MP. She handed back part of this payout saying her decision to keep only a "pro rata" amount was "in line with community expectations".[25]