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			{{Short description\|Australian politician (born 1961)}}
	{{COI\|article's Views section\|date=March 2015}}
	{{~~for~~\|the football player\|Bernie Finn (American football)}}		{{For\|the football player\|Bernie Finn (American football)}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=April 2014}}		{{EngvarB\|date=April 2014}}
	{{Use ~~dmy~~ ~~dates~~\|date=~~April~~ ~~2014~~}}		{{Use Australian English\|date=August 2021}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2021}}

	{{Infobox officeholder		{{Infobox officeholder
	\|name = Bernie Finn		\| name = Bernie Finn
	\|honorific-suffix = ~~MLC~~		\| honorific-suffix =
	\|image =		\| image = File:Bernie Finn, October 2023 b.jpg
	\|~~birth_date~~ = ~~{{birth~~ ~~date~~ ~~and~~ ~~age\|1961\|4\|14\|df~~=~~y}}~~		\| caption = Finn in 2023
			\| birth_name = Bernard Thomas Christopher Finn
	\|birth_place =
	\|~~office1~~ = ~~Member~~ of ~~the~~ ]		\| birth_date = {{Birth date and age\|1961\|4\|14\|df=y}}
	\|~~party~~ = ]		\| birth_place = ], Australia
			\| office1 = Member of the ] for ]
⚫	\|occupation = Businessman, broadcaster, ministerial advisor
	\|~~religion~~ = ]		\| term_start1 = 25 November 2006
	\|~~term_start1~~ = 25 November ~~2006~~		\| termend1 = 26 November 2022
			\| office2 = Member of the ] for ]
⚫	\|website = {{~~url\|http://www.berniefinn.com~~}}
			\| predecessor2 = ''District created''
			\| successor2 = ]
			\| office3 = Leader of the ] <br/> in Victoria
			\| term_start3 = 2 June 2022
		⚫	\| termend3 = 6 August 2023
			\| party = ] (2023−)
			\|otherparty = ] (1980, 2022−2023)<br />] (2022) <br /> ] (1981−2022)
		⚫	\| occupation = {{hlist\|Businessman\|broadcaster\|ministerial advisor}}
			\| term_start2 = 3 October 1992
			\| term_end2 = 18 September 1999
		⚫	\| website = {{Official URL}}
	}}		}}
			{{Conservatism in Australia\|Politicians}}

	'''Bernard ~~(Bernie)~~ Thomas Christopher Finn''' (born 14 April 1961) is a member of the ] representing the ] ~~since~~ the election of November 2006.<ref name=parlbio>{{cite web \|title=Bernie Finn (Western Metropolitan)\|work=Members Information \|publisher=]\|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/id/28\|~~accessdate~~=20 December 2011}}</ref> He was previously the member for the ] in the ] from October 1992 until September 1999.		'''Bernard Thomas Christopher Finn''' (born 14 April 1961) is a former Australian politician who was a member of the ] representing the ] from the election of November 2006 until he lost in the ].<ref name=parlbio>{{cite web \|title=Bernie Finn (Western Metropolitan)\|work=Members Information \|publisher=]\|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/id/28\|access-date=20 December 2011}}</ref> He was previously the member for the ] in the ] from October 1992 until September 1999.

	==Political career==		==Political career==
	Finn was originally a member of the ] (DLP). In 1980, aged 19, he was the DLP candidate for the federal seat of ]. Soon after, he left the DLP and joined the ]. In 1983 he was the Liberal candidate for the seat of ].		Finn was originally a member of the ] (DLP). In 1980, aged 19, he was the DLP candidate for the federal seat of ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1980/1980repsvic.txt\|title=1980 Election\|website=Psephos\|last=Carr\|first=Adam}}</ref> Soon after, he left the DLP and joined the ]. In 1983 he was the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1983/1983repsvic.txt\|title=1983 Election\|last=Carr\|first=Adam\|website=Psephos}}</ref>

			Finn was the Member for the District of Tullamarine from 1992 until 1999 when he lost his seat in the Steve Bracks led victory over the Kennett Liberal Government.
	Finn was the number one candidate on the ] ticket in the Western Metropolitan Region in 2010 and was elected alongside fellow Liberal ]. The other three members representing the Western metropolitan Region are ] and ] from the ], and ] from the Greens.<ref>{{cite web\|title=State Election 2010 : Western Metropolitan Region\|url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2010resultWesternMetropolitanRegion.html\|website=www.vec.vic.gov.au\|publisher=Victorian Electoral Commission\|accessdate=3 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/id/1731\|title=Parliamentary Profile}}</ref>

			Finn was the number one candidate on the Liberal Party of Australia ticket in the Western Metropolitan Region from 2006 to 2018. He was first elected to the Legislative Council in 2006 and re-elected in 2010, 2014 and 2018.<ref name=parlbio/>
	==Views==
⚫	Finn has drawn controversy for his political views. He has criticised ] ~~and ],~~ and been rebuked for his remarks that rape victims should not be allowed an abortion, ~~including the~~ ] ], who ~~has~~ called Finn's views "inappropriate".<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-18/victorian-liberal-mp-says-no-abortions-for-rape-victims/5328448\|title=Victorian Liberal MP Bernie Finn says no abortions for rape victims\|work=ABC News\|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|date=18 Mar 2014\|author=Alison Savage}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/state-mp-bernie-finn-says-there-is-no-acceptable-reason-for-abortion-20140318-34z33.html\|title=State MP Bernie Finn says there is no acceptable reason for abortion\|date=18 March 2014\|author=Josh Gordon and Henrietta Cook\|work=]\|publisher=]}}</ref> Finn is a strong opponent of ], ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/neil-mitchell-blog/should-gay-couples-be-able-to-adopt/20140527-3910w.html\|~~archiveurl~~=~~http~~://web.archive.org/web/20140729160949/http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/neil-mitchell-blog/should-gay-couples-be-able-to-adopt/20140527-3910w.html\|~~archivedate~~=29 ~~Jul~~ 2014\|date=27 May 2014\|title=Should gay couples be able to adopt?\|quote=Liberal MP Bernie Finn has sparked fierce debate about same-sex couples adopting children after posting controversial anti gay-adoption comments on his Facebook page.Last week, state Labor voted in favour of changing the law, which could pave the way for homosexual couples to adopt if Daniel Andrews wins November's election.However, Mr Finn, MP for the Western Metropolitan Region, who is a Richmond supporter, said he'd join the Collingwood cheer squad before he'd ever support gay adoption, while in another post he asked for "proof" that having two mothers or two fathers wouldn't hurt children.Labor today lashed out at Mr Finn, saying the outspoken MP has offended hundreds of loving parents.\|work=3AW Mornings}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/local-news/victoria-news/calls-for-premier-napthine-to-condemn-mp-over-same-sex-adoption-remarks/123518\|title=Calls for Premier Napthine to condemn MP over same-sex adoption remarks\|work=Star Observer\|date=29 May 2014\|author=Benjamin Riley}}</ref> and IVF. Finn suggested during the 2012 Australian Open that some ~~gay~~ ~~activists~~ had "embarked on a program of rainbow fascism."<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://global.christianpost.com/news/teenage-tennis-star-denies-making-gay-protest-at-australian-open-67425/\|title=Teenage Tennis Star Denies Making Gay Protest at Australian Open\|author=Benge Nsenduluka\|date=18 January 2012\|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/liberal-mp-hits-out-at-%E2%80%98rainbow-fascists%E2%80%99/69546\|title=Liberal MP hits out at ~~‘rainbow~~ ~~fascists’~~\|work=Star Observer\|date=16 Jan 2012\|author=Andie Noonan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/mp-slams-open-rainbow-fascism/story-fn59niix-1226246809149\|title=MP slams Open 'rainbow fascism' over Margaret Court\|work=The Australian\|date=18 Jan 2012\|author=Chip Le Grand}}</ref>

			During the period of the ] and ] governments, Finn served as Chairman of the ] Electoral Matters Committee.<ref> parliament.vic.gov.au</ref>
⚫	Finn is a critic of ], stating in Victorian Parliament in 2013 that "there has been no global warming for 17 years". He has attacked the climate change documentary '']'' ~~and~~ ~~contemporary~~ reports in the British newspaper '']''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/daily-hansard/Council_2013/Council_Daily_Extract_Wednesday_11_December_2013_from_Book_17.pdf\|publisher=PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA\|title=PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)\|date=11 December 2013}}</ref>

			Finn previously served on the ] frontbench as the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for ], Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Electoral Integrity and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Melbourne's West.<ref name=parlbio/>

			In 2018 Finn was involved in a controversy where he returned to vote on a bill despite having been granted a "pair" to be absent from voting due to religious observation.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-02/victorian-liberals-condemned-by-labor-over-pairing-betrayal/9610358?pfmredir=sm\|title=Victorians 'betrayed' over Liberals pairing controversy, Acting Premier says\|website=] \|date=2 April 2018}}</ref>

			In May 2022, Finn was expelled from the ] for "a series of inflammatory social media posts", including calling for abortion to be made illegal in all circumstances, and comparing the Victorian premier to ].<ref>{{cite web \| url=https://www.australianjewishnews.com/liberal-mp-slammed-over-nazi-comparison/amp/ \| title=Liberal MP slammed over Nazi comparison – the Australian Jewish News }}</ref><ref>{{cite news \| url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-05/victorian-liberal-bernie-finn-praying-for-abortion-ban/101041168 \| title=Victorian Liberal MP says he is 'praying' for abortion to be banned in wake of concern about US law change \| newspaper=ABC News \| date=5 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news \| url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-24/controversial-mp-bernie-finn-expelled-from-victorian-liberals/101093478 \| title=Victorian Liberal MP who posted anti-abortion comments expelled from party \| newspaper=ABC News \| date=23 May 2022 }}</ref> On 2 June, Finn rejoined the Democratic Labour Party and announced he would recontest the ] as the leader of the party.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=483184833603585&set=a.247088550546549\|title=I'm mighty proud to announce I am now the State Leader of the Democratic Labour Party - a genuinely conservative labour party fighting for workers, small businesses, traditional families and regional Victoria.\|work=Bernie Finn MP\|publisher=Facebook\|date=2 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://7news.com.au/politics/expelled-liberal-mp-finn-finds-new-party-c-7024479\|title=Expelled Liberal MP Finn finds new party\|work=7news.com.au\|date=2 June 2022\|author=Cassandra Morgan}}</ref> Finn was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election in 2022. Despite winning 5.16% of the vote, after preference distribution Finn narrowly missed out on re-election in the Western Metropolitan Region by only 210 votes, with Legalise Cannabis Party preferences instead electing a third Liberal candidate.<ref>{{cite web \| url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/vic/2022/guide/lc-results \| title=Legislative Council Results - VIC Election 2022 \| website=] }}</ref>

			On 6 August 2023, Finn left the Democratic Labour Party and joined ].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.facebook.com/familyfirstparty/posts/pfbid02SNurLrfdXTbaLhejRcUugjnin2HwNf4oFyJa6DaPaSu94463o5T7DJpGe51RGz98l\|title=Facebook post\|website=www.facebook.com}} {{better source\|date=February 2024}}</ref><ref> Family First website</ref>

			==Political views==
		⚫	Finn has drawn controversy for his political views. He has criticised ] and been rebuked for his remarks that rape victims should not be allowed an abortion; former ] ], who like Finn voted against the 2008 abortion bill,<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.prolife.org.au/election/ \|title=The Victorian State Government Election \|access-date=2015-03-30 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331121712/http://www.prolife.org.au/election/ \|archive-date=31 March 2015 \|df=dmy-all }}</ref> called Finn's views "inappropriate."<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-18/victorian-liberal-mp-says-no-abortions-for-rape-victims/5328448\|title=Victorian Liberal MP Bernie Finn says no abortions for rape victims\|work=ABC News\|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|date=18 Mar 2014\|author=Alison Savage}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/state-mp-bernie-finn-says-there-is-no-acceptable-reason-for-abortion-20140318-34z33.html\|title=State MP Bernie Finn says there is no acceptable reason for abortion\|date=18 March 2014\|author=Josh Gordon and Henrietta Cook\|work=]\|publisher=]}}</ref> Finn is a strong opponent of ], ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/neil-mitchell-blog/should-gay-couples-be-able-to-adopt/20140527-3910w.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729160949/http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/neil-mitchell-blog/should-gay-couples-be-able-to-adopt/20140527-3910w.html\|archive-date=29 July 2014\|date=27 May 2014\|title=Should gay couples be able to adopt?\|quote=Liberal MP Bernie Finn has sparked fierce debate about same-sex couples adopting children after posting controversial anti gay-adoption comments on his Facebook page. Last week, state Labor voted in favour of changing the law, which could pave the way for homosexual couples to adopt if Daniel Andrews wins November's election. However, Mr Finn, MP for the Western Metropolitan Region, who is a Richmond supporter, said he'd join the Collingwood cheer squad before he'd ever support gay adoption, while in another post he asked for "proof" that having two mothers or two fathers wouldn't hurt children. Labor today lashed out at Mr Finn, saying the outspoken MP has offended hundreds of loving parents.\|work=3AW Mornings}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/local-news/victoria-news/calls-for-premier-napthine-to-condemn-mp-over-same-sex-adoption-remarks/123518\|title=Calls for Premier Napthine to condemn MP over same-sex adoption remarks\|work=Star Observer\|date=29 May 2014\|author=Benjamin Riley}}</ref> and ]. Finn suggested during the 2012 ] that some ‘gay activists’ had "embarked on a program of rainbow fascism."<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://global.christianpost.com/news/teenage-tennis-star-denies-making-gay-protest-at-australian-open-67425/\|title=Teenage Tennis Star Denies Making Gay Protest at Australian Open\|author=Benge Nsenduluka\|date=18 January 2012\|work=]\|access-date=18 March 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318104904/http://global.christianpost.com/news/teenage-tennis-star-denies-making-gay-protest-at-australian-open-67425/\|archive-date=18 March 2014\|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/liberal-mp-hits-out-at-%E2%80%98rainbow-fascists%E2%80%99/69546\|title=Liberal MP hits out at 'rainbow fascists'\|work=Star Observer\|date=16 Jan 2012\|author=Andie Noonan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/mp-slams-open-rainbow-fascism/story-fn59niix-1226246809149\|title=MP slams Open 'rainbow fascism' over Margaret Court\|work=The Australian\|date=18 Jan 2012\|author=Chip Le Grand}}</ref>

		⚫	Finn is a ] and was a critic of the Gillard government's ], stating in the Victorian Parliament in 2013 that "there has been no global warming for 17 years". He has attacked the climate change documentary '']'', as well as reports on the subject in the British newspaper '']''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/daily-hansard/Council_2013/Council_Daily_Extract_Wednesday_11_December_2013_from_Book_17.pdf\|publisher=PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA\|title=PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)\|date=11 December 2013}}</ref> He has claimed that ] is an invention of the "international left", saying that "it raised a few dollars and promoted its own political interests. It came up with a thing called global warming", which he labelled "nonsense". He went on to say that "we have to come to a conclusion that climate change is not so much a scientific thing as it is a political thing". Finn also told Parliament that "This is a con; the whole thing is a con. Today we are in the Parliament of Victoria wasting our time on something that is largely an invention of the left".

			Finn supports reintroducing ] for serious offences, including serious drug trafficking.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/mp-bernie-finn-calls-to-bring-back-death-penalty-for-drug-dealers-39823625.html\|title=Liberal MP's call to bring back death penalty for drug dealers\|date=12 April 2018 }}</ref>

			Finn is a regular panellist on conservative television channel ] and a frequent critic of the ] movement, climate science and members of what he views as ‘the left’, including American Democrats and the ]. Finn is a supporter of former US President ] and a believer of the ] conspiracy.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6161894153001\|title='America is finished if campaign to bring down Trump succeeds'\|date=5 June 2020\|publisher=]}}</ref> In January 2021, Finn was criticised for sharing conspiracy theories to his private Facebook page, falsely claiming Donald Trump was being "improperly" removed from office.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-07/victorian-liberal-bernie-finn-donald-trump-election-posts/13039040\|title = Victorian Liberal MP posts Trump conspiracy theories to Facebook\| website=] \|date = 7 January 2021}}</ref> Finn also falsely suggested that ] were behind the ] and repeated unsubstantiated claims of ] about the 2020 presidential election.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web\|last=Ilanbey\|first=Sumeyya\|date=2021-01-08\|title=Victorian Liberals confront Bernie Finn over pro-Trump social media posts\|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victorian-liberals-confront-bernie-finn-over-pro-trump-social-media-posts-20210108-p56srh.html\|url-status=live\|access-date=2021-10-18\|website=]\|language=en\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108075308/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victorian-liberals-confront-bernie-finn-over-pro-trump-social-media-posts-20210108-p56srh.html \|archive-date=8 January 2021 }}</ref>

			In February 2021 Finn, ] the Reignite Democracy Australia Facebook group, criticised the ] lockdown measures imposed by the Victorian government, saying that maybe they were about hardline socialists' dislike of small businesses.<ref>{{cite web \| title=Liberal MP Bernie Finn tells anti-lockdown protest Victorian restrictions were 'not about a virus' \| url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-18/victoria-liberal-mps-address-anti-coronavirus-lockdown-group/13165230 \| date=18 February 2021 \| author=Kristian Silva \| work=]}}</ref>

			In May 2022, Finn expressed on ] that he is “praying” for ] to be banned in Australia, following the release of the ] draft decision written by Justice ] in ] ().<ref name="2022-05-05_ABC">, Richard Willingham, ], 2022-05-05</ref>

	==Personal life==		==Personal life==
	Before entering Parliament, Finn was a small businessman, broadcaster and a media and ministerial adviser to ].<ref name="parlbio"/> He is married with six children<ref>{{cite web\|title=Bernard (Bernie) Finn\|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/details/28-mr-bernard-finn\|website=~~http://www.parliament~~.vic.gov.au/\|publisher=Parliament of Victoria\|~~accessdate~~=3 September 2014}}</ref>		Before entering Parliament, Finn was a small businessman, broadcaster and a media and ministerial adviser to ].<ref name="parlbio"/> He is married with six children.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Bernard (Bernie) Finn\|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/details/28-mr-bernard-finn\|website=Parliament.vic.gov.au\|publisher=Parliament of Victoria\|access-date=3 September 2014}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==
	{{~~reflist~~}}		{{Reflist}}

	==External links==		==External links==
	* {{~~official~~ website~~\|http://www.berniefinn.com~~}}		* {{Official website}}
	*

	{{s-start}}		{{s-start}}
	{{s-par\|au-vic-la}}		{{s-par\|au-vic-la}}
			\|-
⚫	{{~~succession box~~ \| title=Member for ] \| before='''Seat created''' \| after=] \| years=~~1992–1999~~}}
			{{s-non \| reason=District created}}
		⚫	{{s-ttl \| title=Member for ] \| years=1992–1999}}
			{{s-aft \| after=]}}
	{{s-end}}		{{s-end}}

	{{VicCurrentMLCs}}

	{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
⚫	\| ~~NAME~~ ~~= Finn,~~ ~~Bernie~~
	\| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
	\| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Politician
	\| DATE OF BIRTH = 14 April 1961
	\| PLACE OF BIRTH =
	\| DATE OF DEATH =
	\| PLACE OF DEATH =
	}}
	{{DEFAULTSORT:Finn, Bernie}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Finn, Bernie}}
	]		]
			]
	]		]
		⚫	]
			]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
			]
⚫	]
			]

Latest revision as of 12:56, 22 December 2024

Australian politician (born 1961) For the football player, see Bernie Finn (American football).

Bernie Finn
Finn in 2023

Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Western Metropolitan Region
In office 25 November 2006 – 26 November 2022
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Tullamarine
In office 3 October 1992 – 18 September 1999
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Liz Beattie
Leader of the Democratic Labour Party in Victoria
In office 2 June 2022 – 6 August 2023

Personal details
Born	Bernard Thomas Christopher Finn (1961-04-14) 14 April 1961 (age 63) Colac, Victoria, Australia
Political party	Family First (2023−)
Other political affiliations	Democratic Labour (1980, 2022−2023) Independent (2022) Liberal (1981−2022)
Occupation	Businessman broadcaster ministerial advisor
Website	www.berniefinn.com

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Bernard Thomas Christopher Finn (born 14 April 1961) is a former Australian politician who was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Western Metropolitan Region from the election of November 2006 until he lost in the November 2022 election. He was previously the member for the electoral district of Tullamarine in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from October 1992 until September 1999.

Political career

Finn was originally a member of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP). In 1980, aged 19, he was the DLP candidate for the federal seat of Corangamite. Soon after, he left the DLP and joined the Liberal Party. In 1983 he was the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Burke.

Finn was the Member for the District of Tullamarine from 1992 until 1999 when he lost his seat in the Steve Bracks led victory over the Kennett Liberal Government.

Finn was the number one candidate on the Liberal Party of Australia ticket in the Western Metropolitan Region from 2006 to 2018. He was first elected to the Legislative Council in 2006 and re-elected in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

During the period of the Baillieu and Napthine governments, Finn served as Chairman of the Victorian Parliament's Electoral Matters Committee.

Finn previously served on the Coalition frontbench as the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for autism spectrum disorder, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Electoral Integrity and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Melbourne's West.

In 2018 Finn was involved in a controversy where he returned to vote on a bill despite having been granted a "pair" to be absent from voting due to religious observation.

In May 2022, Finn was expelled from the Victorian Liberal Party for "a series of inflammatory social media posts", including calling for abortion to be made illegal in all circumstances, and comparing the Victorian premier to Adolf Hitler. On 2 June, Finn rejoined the Democratic Labour Party and announced he would recontest the 2022 Victorian state election as the leader of the party. Finn was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election in 2022. Despite winning 5.16% of the vote, after preference distribution Finn narrowly missed out on re-election in the Western Metropolitan Region by only 210 votes, with Legalise Cannabis Party preferences instead electing a third Liberal candidate.

On 6 August 2023, Finn left the Democratic Labour Party and joined Family First Party.

Political views

Finn has drawn controversy for his political views. He has criticised abortion and been rebuked for his remarks that rape victims should not be allowed an abortion; former premier Denis Napthine, who like Finn voted against the 2008 abortion bill, called Finn's views "inappropriate." Finn is a strong opponent of same sex marriage, adoption, and IVF. Finn suggested during the 2012 Australian Open that some ‘gay activists’ had "embarked on a program of rainbow fascism."

Finn is a climate change denier and was a critic of the Gillard government's carbon pricing scheme, stating in the Victorian Parliament in 2013 that "there has been no global warming for 17 years". He has attacked the climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth, as well as reports on the subject in the British newspaper The Guardian. He has claimed that global warming is an invention of the "international left", saying that "it raised a few dollars and promoted its own political interests. It came up with a thing called global warming", which he labelled "nonsense". He went on to say that "we have to come to a conclusion that climate change is not so much a scientific thing as it is a political thing". Finn also told Parliament that "This is a con; the whole thing is a con. Today we are in the Parliament of Victoria wasting our time on something that is largely an invention of the left".

Finn supports reintroducing capital punishment for serious offences, including serious drug trafficking.

Finn is a regular panellist on conservative television channel Sky News Australia and a frequent critic of the Black Lives Matter movement, climate science and members of what he views as ‘the left’, including American Democrats and the Australian Labor Party. Finn is a supporter of former US President Donald Trump and a believer of the Big Lie conspiracy. In January 2021, Finn was criticised for sharing conspiracy theories to his private Facebook page, falsely claiming Donald Trump was being "improperly" removed from office. Finn also falsely suggested that antifa were behind the storming of the US Capitol and repeated unsubstantiated claims of election fraud about the 2020 presidential election.

In February 2021 Finn, addressing the Reignite Democracy Australia Facebook group, criticised the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures imposed by the Victorian government, saying that maybe they were about hardline socialists' dislike of small businesses.

In May 2022, Finn expressed on Facebook that he is “praying” for abortion to be banned in Australia, following the release of the SCOTUS draft decision written by Justice Samuel Alito in Dobbs (19-1392).

Personal life

Before entering Parliament, Finn was a small businessman, broadcaster and a media and ministerial adviser to Chris Pearce. He is married with six children.

References

^ "Bernie Finn (Western Metropolitan)". Members Information. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
Carr, Adam. "1980 Election". Psephos.
Carr, Adam. "1983 Election". Psephos.
Media release parliament.vic.gov.au
"Victorians 'betrayed' over Liberals pairing controversy, Acting Premier says". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 April 2018.
"Liberal MP slammed over Nazi comparison – the Australian Jewish News".
"Victorian Liberal MP says he is 'praying' for abortion to be banned in wake of concern about US law change". ABC News. 5 May 2022.
"Victorian Liberal MP who posted anti-abortion comments expelled from party". ABC News. 23 May 2022.
"I'm mighty proud to announce I am now the State Leader of the Democratic Labour Party - a genuinely conservative labour party fighting for workers, small businesses, traditional families and regional Victoria". Bernie Finn MP. Facebook. 2 June 2022.
Cassandra Morgan (2 June 2022). "Expelled Liberal MP Finn finds new party". 7news.com.au.
"Legislative Council Results - VIC Election 2022". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"Facebook post". www.facebook.com.
Press release Family First website
"The Victorian State Government Election". Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
Alison Savage (18 March 2014). "Victorian Liberal MP Bernie Finn says no abortions for rape victims". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Josh Gordon and Henrietta Cook (18 March 2014). "State MP Bernie Finn says there is no acceptable reason for abortion". The Age. Fairfax Media.
"Should gay couples be able to adopt?". 3AW Mornings. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Liberal MP Bernie Finn has sparked fierce debate about same-sex couples adopting children after posting controversial anti gay-adoption comments on his Facebook page. Last week, state Labor voted in favour of changing the law, which could pave the way for homosexual couples to adopt if Daniel Andrews wins November's election. However, Mr Finn, MP for the Western Metropolitan Region, who is a Richmond supporter, said he'd join the Collingwood cheer squad before he'd ever support gay adoption, while in another post he asked for "proof" that having two mothers or two fathers wouldn't hurt children. Labor today lashed out at Mr Finn, saying the outspoken MP has offended hundreds of loving parents.
Benjamin Riley (29 May 2014). "Calls for Premier Napthine to condemn MP over same-sex adoption remarks". Star Observer.
Benge Nsenduluka (18 January 2012). "Teenage Tennis Star Denies Making Gay Protest at Australian Open". Christian Post. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
Andie Noonan (16 January 2012). "Liberal MP hits out at 'rainbow fascists'". Star Observer.
Chip Le Grand (18 January 2012). "MP slams Open 'rainbow fascism' over Margaret Court". The Australian.
"PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)" (PDF). PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA. 11 December 2013.
"Liberal MP's call to bring back death penalty for drug dealers". 12 April 2018.
"'America is finished if campaign to bring down Trump succeeds'". Sky News Australia. 5 June 2020.
^ "Victorian Liberal MP posts Trump conspiracy theories to Facebook". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 January 2021.
Ilanbey, Sumeyya (8 January 2021). "Victorian Liberals confront Bernie Finn over pro-Trump social media posts". The Age. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
Kristian Silva (18 February 2021). "Liberal MP Bernie Finn tells anti-lockdown protest Victorian restrictions were 'not about a virus'". ABC News.
Victorian Liberal MP 'praying' for abortion to be banned in wake of concern about US law change, Richard Willingham, ABC News Online, 2022-05-05
"Bernard (Bernie) Finn". Parliament.vic.gov.au. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 3 September 2014.

External links

Official website

Victorian Legislative Assembly
District created	Member for Tullamarine 1992–1999	Succeeded byLiz Beattie

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