Electoral district of Finniss

Finniss is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Boyle Finniss, the first Premier of South Australia. It covers a 5,916.9km² regional area based around Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula, and takes in the towns of Goolwa, Kingscote, Penneshaw, Port Elliot, Victor Harbor, Willunga and Yankalilla.

Finniss has been an easily safe seat for the Liberal Party of Australia since its creation at the 1991 electoral redistribution, when it replaced the abolished Alexandrina. It was contested for the first time at the 1993 election by newly-elected Liberal leader Dean Brown, who had returned to parliament after a seven-year absence by winning a by-election the previous year. Brown had little difficulty winning Finniss, and subsequently became Premier after the election. Brown was later toppled as Premier by Liberal rival John Olsen in 1996, and was initially expected to retire, but remained in parliament as a senior member of consecutive Liberal ministries and shadow ministries. Brown retired at the 2006 election, and was succeeded by Liberal candidate Michael Pengilly, holding off a concerted attempt by the National Party to take the seat.

Members for Alexandra and Finniss

External links

* [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2006/guide/finn.htm ABC profile for Finniss]
* [http://www.pollbludger.com/sa2006/finniss.htm Poll Bludger profile for Finniss]
* [http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/election2006//maps/images/512.gifState Electoral Office map for Finniss]
* [http://www.seo.sa.gov.au/apps/news/?year=2006&districtSearch=3203 State Electoral Office profile for Finniss]