Bernie Finn to be booted from Liberal Party after latest abortion controversy

Outspoken Liberal MP Bernie Finn says he found out through the media that his party was planning to expel him.

The Liberal Party is set to vote on a motion booting Bernie Finn from their ranks. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Under fire Liberal MP Bernie Finn says he found out his party was planning to expel him through the media.

Mr Finn told the Herald Sun that no one in the party had bothered to tell him about the motion next week.

“It seems to me that the leadership is communicating with me via the media these days,” he said.

“Perhaps I should start responding to them through the media.

“I’m a bit bemused. I’m yet to be told exactly what the situation is, but what I’m gathering from you good people is that there is something afoot.”

A partyroom meeting is expected to be held next Tuesday morning to vote on a motion to remove the upper house politician.

It comes just days after Mr Finn resigned as the opposition whip in the upper house in the wake of his “abhorrent” abortion views, declaring the Liberal Party had displayed a “degree of disloyalty” to him.

In a statement, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said: “It is imperative that Liberal Members of Parliament must be solely focused on recovering and rebuilding Victoria.

“A continued lack of discipline and repeated actions detrimental to the party’s ability to stand up for the interests of Victorians has left no other option but to consider Mr Finn’s eligibility to represent the Liberal Party,” he added.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy with Liberal MP Bernie Finn, who is set to be booted from the party. Picture: Kylie Else

Mr Finn said he hadn’t yet considered a future outside the Liberal party.

“I have given that zero thought. This was thrown at me late this afternoon. I’ve been in meetings with constituents, which, I have to say it’s been a bit hard to concentrate,” he laughed.

“If I am thrown out for expressing a policy view, you’ve got to wonder where this all ends up.

“I have always been a great believer of freedom of speech. I think a Liberal party that does not believe in freedom of speech has lost its meaning.”

Mr Finn said he will use the week to turn his full attention towards the federal election, before worrying about his own political future.

But he said he had received calls from angry constituents, including a man who was “in tears” about the party’s treatment of Mr Finn.

“I fear it’s going to get nasty,” he said.

“I am absolutely staggered that they would begin the public process this week. I would have thought that anything that would extenuate the party would be avoided.

“Anything I say from here will turn attention away from the election, and that’s where the focus needs to be.

“After the Feds, all bets are off.”

MPs, speaking to the Herald Sun anonymously, said it was Mr Finn’s pattern of behaviour that was of most concern, not his individual views on specific topics.

Mr Finn has come under fire in recent days for declaring that he hoped Victoria moved towards banning abortions.

The former Liberal Party campaign director who first entered parliament in 1992, has become increasingly brazen with his social media activity.

Last year, he dubbed Victoria Police officers “modern incarnation of the Despot’s militia” and has been accused of posting pro-Trump conspiracy theories.

He also sparked outrage after posting a meme about a Chinese rocket falling on the national broadcaster or his political rivals, and mocking people with disabilities.

Mr Finn defended his anti-abortion stance, saying he had been a pro-life activist for 45 years.

“My views on the subject are no state secret. Victoria’s abortion law allows babies to be killed up until birth,” he said.

“Even some pro-abortionists think it goes way too far.”

Mr Finn last week revealed he hadn’t spoken to Mr Guy in “some months”.

Writing on his personal Facebook account on Monday, Mr Finn lashed out at the people attacking him.

“Who is the moron who starts a factional brawl 4 (sic) days out from a federal election?”

“Albo says thanks!”