Bernard Finnigan
Encyclopedia
Bernard Vincent Finnigan (born 1972) is an Australia
n politician
. He has served in the South Australian Legislative Council
for the Australian Labor Party
since 2006.
and grew up in nearby Eight Mile Creek on the family's dairy farm. He attended Allendale East Area School and Tenison Woods College
in Mount Gambier before attending the University of Adelaide
. In 1993 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While still at university he joined the Australian Labor Party.
Finnigan joined the South Australian branch of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association
in 1995 as a union official, before becoming assistant secretary in 2000, a position he held for five years. There, he was a protege of future Senator Don Farrell
.
to the Legislative Council
on 2 May 2006 as the party's choice to fill the remainder of the term left vacant by the death of Labor MLC Terry Roberts
. According to Finnigan, his policy interests include "economic development, industrial relations, federal-state relations, family issues and building social capital". As a backbencher he participated in a number of committees. He served as Parliamentary Secretary
to Premier Mike Rann
from April 2010 until he was appointed as a Minister. He was third on Labor's upper house ticket at the 2010 election and was subsequently re-elected.
A Catholic, Finnigan is a member of the Labor Unity faction. In his maiden speech on 8 May 2006 he told the Parliament that "I am a servant of Christ and subject of His reign in history". In June 2008 on a conscience vote
, he was among a number of Labor MLCs who joined Liberal and Family First
MLCs to vote down an amendment to give same sex couples legal access to gestational surrogacy. Finnigan has opposed the legalisation of euthanasia
. In 2009 he was described as "one of the most influential figures in Parliament" and a likely backbench candidate for the ministry, after the promotion of Tom Koutsantonis
.
Finnigan was promoted to the Rann cabinet on 8 February 2011. He was appointed to the ministerial portfolios of Industrial Relations, State/Local Government Relations, and Gambling, and also to the position of leader of the government in the Legislative Council. He also served as acting police minister while Kevin Foley
, the serving police minister, was overseas.
offences. Premier Mike Rann asked that Finnigan be suspended from the Australian Labor Party while his case was before the courts; the suspension was endorsed by the party's state executive on 3 May 2011. As the charges are considered a sexual crime, South Australian law prohibits publication of his name in connection with the charges until he either enters a plea, is committed for trial or gives his permission for mention of the charges. He remains a member of parliament, and still has a ministerial staff.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He has served in the South Australian Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
for the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
since 2006.
Early life
One of twelve children, Finnigan was born in 1972 in Mount GambierMount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
and grew up in nearby Eight Mile Creek on the family's dairy farm. He attended Allendale East Area School and Tenison Woods College
Tenison Woods College
Tenison Woods College is a co-educational Roman Catholic secondary school in Mount Gambier, South Australia. It is named after the pioneer priest, scientist and educator Fr. Julian Tenison Woods in recognition of his contribution to Catholic education...
in Mount Gambier before attending the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. In 1993 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While still at university he joined the Australian Labor Party.
Finnigan joined the South Australian branch of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association
Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association is the largest trade union in Australia with more than 230,000 members and branches in every state and one in the Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Central Coast region. The SDA is the union for retail and fast-food workers, but does have other...
in 1995 as a union official, before becoming assistant secretary in 2000, a position he held for five years. There, he was a protege of future Senator Don Farrell
Don Farrell
Donald Edward Farrell is an Australian politician and former trade union leader. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since 1 July 2008, representing the state of South Australia. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water on 14 September 2010...
.
Parliament
Finnigan was appointed by the Parliament of South AustraliaParliament of South Australia
The Parliament of South Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of South Australia. It consists of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. It follows a Westminster system of parliamentary government....
to the Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
on 2 May 2006 as the party's choice to fill the remainder of the term left vacant by the death of Labor MLC Terry Roberts
Terry Roberts
The Hon Terry Roberts was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council between 1985 and 2006. At the time of his death, he was a Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and Correctional Services in the South Australian government.Roberts was born and educated in Millicent, South...
. According to Finnigan, his policy interests include "economic development, industrial relations, federal-state relations, family issues and building social capital". As a backbencher he participated in a number of committees. He served as Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to Premier Mike Rann
Mike Rann
Michael David Rann MHA, CNZM , Australian politician, served as the 44th Premier of South Australia. He led the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party to minority government at the 2002 election, before attaining a landslide win at the 2006 election...
from April 2010 until he was appointed as a Minister. He was third on Labor's upper house ticket at the 2010 election and was subsequently re-elected.
A Catholic, Finnigan is a member of the Labor Unity faction. In his maiden speech on 8 May 2006 he told the Parliament that "I am a servant of Christ and subject of His reign in history". In June 2008 on a conscience vote
Conscience vote
A conscience vote or free vote is a type of vote in a legislative body where legislators are allowed to vote according to their own personal conscience rather than according to an official line set down by their political party....
, he was among a number of Labor MLCs who joined Liberal and Family First
Family First Party
The Family First Party is a socially conservative minor political party in Australia. It has two members in the South Australian Legislative Council...
MLCs to vote down an amendment to give same sex couples legal access to gestational surrogacy. Finnigan has opposed the legalisation of euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
. In 2009 he was described as "one of the most influential figures in Parliament" and a likely backbench candidate for the ministry, after the promotion of Tom Koutsantonis
Tom Koutsantonis
Anastasios "Tom" Koutsantonis is a South Australian politician and a member of the Australian Labor Party, representing the seat of West Torrens in the South Australian House of Assembly...
.
Finnigan was promoted to the Rann cabinet on 8 February 2011. He was appointed to the ministerial portfolios of Industrial Relations, State/Local Government Relations, and Gambling, and also to the position of leader of the government in the Legislative Council. He also served as acting police minister while Kevin Foley
Kevin Foley
Kevin Owen Foley , Australian politician, is the current Minister for Industry and Trade and Minister for Federal/State Relations in the Rann Labor government. He previously served as Treasurer of South Australia and Deputy Premier of South Australia from 2002 until his resignation in 2011...
, the serving police minister, was overseas.
Resignation and criminal charges
Finnigan resigned as a minister and as a member of the South Australian Executive Council on 21 April 2011. The night before his resignation, Finnigan was arrested and charged with four child pornographyChild pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
offences. Premier Mike Rann asked that Finnigan be suspended from the Australian Labor Party while his case was before the courts; the suspension was endorsed by the party's state executive on 3 May 2011. As the charges are considered a sexual crime, South Australian law prohibits publication of his name in connection with the charges until he either enters a plea, is committed for trial or gives his permission for mention of the charges. He remains a member of parliament, and still has a ministerial staff.
External links
- Snelling and Finnigan on 891 Breakfast- 891 ABC Adelaide891 ABC Adelaide891 ABC Adelaide is the ABC Local Radio station for Adelaide. It is broadcast at 891 kHz on the AM band.-History:...
, 9 February 2011