Conservative Liberal Eric Abetz wants debate on watering down racial discrimination laws brought back to the political agenda.

The Tasmanian senator is also urging his party to get back to basics and push family values and freedom of speech.

He said there weren't many people during the election campaign excited by the government's message on innovation and submarines.

"But there would have been people excited if we said, 'we believe that family is important in society, that freedom is important, that we love the ethic of the small business sector'," he told Sky News on Thursday.

"Coming back to values is very important."

Senator Abetz also hoped the debate over section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act would dominate the political agenda again.

He said TV personality Sonia Kruger's right to make comments on banning Muslim immigration must be defended.