Weakened by Bernie, party’s Finn-ished for controversial Liberal MP

Bernie Finn has been expelled from the Liberal Party for disobedience after the right-wing Victorian MP said abortion should be banned in the state, even for rape survivors.

His Liberal colleagues voted to expel him in a party room meeting on Tuesday morning, forcing him onto the crossbench in the upper house of the Victorian parliament.

Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he expected members of the Liberal Party to “uphold a respectful discourse” on all issues.Credit: Joe Armao

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said it was a disappointing outcome but that he expected discipline from members of his party.

“I want to make it clear that this motion is about respectful discourse. It is now about the Liberal Party – not navel-gazing from the federal election or other issues – it is about moving on and being a sensible alternative government,” he said. “A respectful, sensible, alternative government.

“I expect people to uphold respectful discourse whatever their issues may be.”

Guy acknowledged Finn’s service to the Liberal Party, which he said “welcomes a wide and diverse range of views” and did not take Tuesday’s vote lightly.

Bernie Finn on the steps of the Victorian parliament with a group of supporters on Tuesday.Credit: Joe Armao

Finn was not present for the meeting, claiming it would have legitimatised the move against him. He arrived at the steps of Parliament House about 10am to applause and chants of “hero” and “Bernie” from about 50 supporters.

“I joined the Liberal Party because it was the party of freedom … the party that stood up for those who couldn’t defend for themselves,” Finn said. “The party I joined 41 years ago is dead ... I have done nothing wrong.”

He said he would continue to sit in the upper house, but would need to think about whether he would join another party.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Finn said. “Just as I will not be bullied by Daniel Andrews, I will not be bullied by Matthew Guy either.

“My love of the cause has probably been deepened … I was seriously thinking about retiring at this election.”

Finn, a Christian conservative, had been warned on several occasions about the content of his social media posts.

He compared Premier Daniel Andrews with Hitler, described a former female staffer as a rat, shared several pro-Trump posts during and after the Capitol Hill riots in 2021 and made inflammatory comments about Andrews and a goat in a public toilet.

In October last year, after Finn likened Victoria Police to the “modern incarnation of the Despot’s militia”, Guy warned all Liberal MPs they risked expulsion if they displayed “bad behaviour” online.

Bernie Finn was at state parliament with his supporters on Tuesday, but did not attend the Liberal party room meeting.Credit: Joe Armao

Finn resigned as opposition whip earlier this month after Guy demanded he play by the team rules or quit.

The ultimatum came after Finn posted on social media he was “praying” for abortion to be banned in Victoria – including in the case of sexual assault – following a leaked draft opinion from the US Supreme Court indicating that the Roe v Wade decision, which legalised abortion in the US in 1973, could be overturned.

On Monday, he told radio station 3AW he had been approached to join other parties and would consider those options.

Finn has been a member of the Legislative Council since 2006. Before that, he was the member for the now-abolished lower house seat of Tullamarine between 1992 and 1999.

Asked about the matter on Tuesday, Andrews said he was more focused on community issues and Finn’s expulsion was a matter for the Liberal Party.

“I’ll leave them to be bitterly divided while we get on as a government and deliver for the people of our great state. Our priorities are very clear,” the premier said.

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