The Source: Bernie Finn will run as a Family First candidate for the upper house at the 2026 Victorian election

A Victorian MP who was booted from the Liberal Party over anti-abortion comments before joining the Democratic Labour Party is now running as a Family First candidate.

Bernie Finn says he is honoured to stand as a candidate for Family First. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers

Former outspoken Liberal MP Bernie Finn is planning a political comeback.

Finn was expelled from the Liberal Party before joining the Democratic Labour Party and then Family First.

He has been endorsed to run for Family First in the upper house at next year’s state election after running for the Senate in this year’s federal election.

“I am honoured to stand as Family First’s candidate for the Victorian Upper House,” he said.

“I will fight every day to preserve the innocence of children, to secure parents’ rights, and to stand unyieldingly against the woke nonsense that erodes our social fabric.

“I will also fight for rational energy policy and push back on the net zero nonsense promoted by Liberal and Labor which is destroying the wealth of Victorian mums and dads.”

Finn was replaced in his Western Metropolitan seat by Moira Deeming in the lead up to the 2022 state election.

He first entered state parliament in 1992 and was expelled from the parliamentary Liberal Party following a series of anti-abortion comments and other controversies.

Supporters greet MP Bernie Finn after he was voted out of the Liberal Party. Picture: David Crosling

Mirabella throws hat back in ring

Could it be back to the future for the Victorian Liberal Party?

The Source has confirmed former party president Greg Mirabella will throw his hat back in the ring to steal the role back from incumbent Philip Davis.

Mirabella stood down from the role in 2023, a year after the party’s third successive state election drubbing.

He warned at the time that warring factions within the party had to stop airing their grievances publicly.

Sources say Mirabella will struggle to get the support to topple Philip Davis.

That evidently had little impact, with factional warfare almost more intense now than it was then amid a myriad of public and internal battles threatening to derail the party’s election hopes next year.

Liberals suggest Mirabella will struggle to get the support to topple Davis. But they warned that wasn’t a ringing endorsement for the former state MP.

“Look, the fact is he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s just no one else to get behind, so he’ll probably hang on,” a source said.

Watch this space.

Got a tip? Let us know: [e-mail]