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Bernard (Bernie) Thomas Christopher Finn (born 14 April 1961) is a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Western Metropolitan Region since the election of November 2006. 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 seat of Burke.

Finn was the number one candidate on the Liberal Party of Australia ticket in the Western Metropolitan Region in 2010 and was elected alongside fellow Liberal Andrew Elsbury. The other three members representing the Western metropolitan Region are Cesar Melhem and Khalil Eideh from the Australian Labor Party, and Colleen Hartland from the Greens.

Views

Finn has drawn controversy for his political views. He has criticised Abortion in Australia and women's rights, and been rebuked for his remarks that rape victims should not be allowed an abortion, including the Premier Denis Napthine, who has 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 critic of Carbon pricing in Australia, stating in Victorian Parliament in 2013 that "there has been no global warming for 17 years". He has attacked the climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth and contemporary reports in the British newspaper The Guardian.

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

1. ^ "Bernie Finn (Western Metropolitan)". Members Information. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
2. "State Election 2010 : Western Metropolitan Region". www.vec.vic.gov.au. Victorian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
3. "Parliamentary Profile".
4. Alison Savage (18 March 2014). "Victorian Liberal MP Bernie Finn says no abortions for rape victims". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
5. Josh Gordon and Henrietta Cook (18 March 2014). "State MP Bernie Finn says there is no acceptable reason for abortion". The Age. Fairfax Media.
6. "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.
7. Benjamin Riley (29 May 2014). "Calls for Premier Napthine to condemn MP over same-sex adoption remarks". Star Observer.
8. Benge Nsenduluka (18 January 2012). "Teenage Tennis Star Denies Making Gay Protest at Australian Open". Christian Post.
9. Andie Noonan (16 January 2012). "Liberal MP hits out at 'rainbow fascists'". Star Observer.
10. Chip Le Grand (18 January 2012). "MP slams Open 'rainbow fascism' over Margaret Court". The Australian.
11. "PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)" (PDF). PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA. 11 December 2013.
12. "Bernard (Bernie) Finn". http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 3 September 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)

External links

• Official website
• Bernie Finn on Facebook

Template:Persondata

• 1961 births
• Australian monarchists
• Living people
• Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
• Members of the Victorian Legislative Council
• Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Victoria