Victoria’s Shadow Assistant Minister For Autism Under Fire For Posting An Ableist Meme
The petition calling for his resignation has almost 500 signatures.
Victoria’s Shadow Assistant Minister for Autism, Bernie Finn, posted a photoshopped picture of Premier Dan Andrews with crossed eyes. The picture had the words “If 2020 was a person” written on it, and a caption by Finn saying “no argument here!”.
It has now been deleted from Finn’s Facebook page after being up for 10 hours, however no apology or explanation has been provided
While it was live, many people pointed out the ableism the post depicted, the MP doubled down on the joke.
In one instance, someone asked “wouldn’t this be considered bullying ‘special’ people?” to which Finn responded “he’s too bloody special!” — ‘special’ being a word often used negatively or sarcastically to imply a person is disabled. When someone else asked whether he thinks “it is appropriate for an MP to be posting [this] publicly”, Finn replied “I have no problem with it”.
This is disgusting ableism. Bernie Finn is the shadow assistant minister for autism. He should resign or be sacked. pic.twitter.com/ddaCzj3BRw
— Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) November 19, 2020
He’s doubling down. What a scumbag. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/MR4prq7Iow
— Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) November 19, 2020
Finn has previously been criticised for similar behaviour. Earlier this year, another Facebook post suggested Andrews was having explicit relations with a goat in a public toilet. He has also refused to stand for Victoria Parliament’s Acknowledgement to Country, and has said women who have been raped should not be able to have abortions.
People are now petitioning for Finn to resign.
Bernie Finn should have been sacked, disendorsed and expelled years ago, but the liberal party continues to tolerate and platform his bigotry.
— Paul Kidd #BLM (@paulkidd) November 19, 2020
The latest meme from Bernie Finn attempting to attack @DanielAndrewsMP by belittling people with disabilities is utterly deplorable. Way down there with Trump’s attack on people who stutter. Just how callous are the Liberal Party?
— Bessie (@BessieElder) November 19, 2020
Bernie Finn should have been sacked, disendorsed and expelled years ago, but the liberal party continues to tolerate and platform his bigotry.
— Paul Kidd #BLM (@paulkidd) November 19, 2020
Junkee has reached out for comment.