24 Facts About Lia Finocchiaro

Lia Finocchiaro led the CLP to a landslide victory in the 2024 Northern Territory general election.

Lia Finocchiaro became chief minister at the age of 39, the second-youngest head of government in the Territory's history after Paul Everingham, and is the first non-Labor woman to hold the post.

Lia Finocchiaro was born in Darwin and grew up in Palmerston.

Lia Finocchiaro attended local primary schools before completing her secondary education at Kormilda College.

Lia Finocchiaro studied the International Baccalaureate diploma, then graduated with a double degree in law and international studies from the University of Adelaide.

Lia Finocchiaro returned to Darwin in 2008, and was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Northern Territory, commencing work as a graduate clerk at the Clayton Utz law firm.

Lia Finocchiaro received a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Charles Darwin University.

Lia Finocchiaro was the youngest MLA in the history of the Legislative Assembly.

On 7 March 2013, Lia Finocchiaro was elevated to the Second Mills Ministry, becoming Minister for Sport and Recreation, Racing, Statehood, Young Territorians and Senior Territorians.

However, Lia Finocchiaro weathered this massive Labor wave with only a small swing against her in Spillett, proving to be in the least danger of the CLP's elected members.

Lia Finocchiaro was the only CLP member whose reelection was assured on election night, and for a few days it was possible that she would be the only CLP member left in the legislature.

Ultimately, Lia Finocchiaro was joined by fellow second-term member Gary Higgins.

Lia Finocchiaro served as Shadow Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, as well as Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Health, Children, Territory Families, Education, Trade, and Essential Services.

However, Lia Finocchiaro did not have any responsibility to keep anyone in line since she and Higgins were the only members of the CLP party room.

Lia Finocchiaro led the CLP to a modest recovery at the 2020 Territory election.

On 11 September 2021, Lia Finocchiaro's party suffered a further election loss when Labor's Dheran Young won a by-election to the Assembly seat of Daly, which was being vacated by Country Liberal Party MLA Ian Sloan, marking the first time the Governing party had won a seat off the opposition in a by-election.

At the 24 August 2024 Territory election, Finocchiaro led the CLP to one of the most comprehensive victories on record at the state or territory level in Australia.

Lia Finocchiaro herself saw her majority in Spillett balloon to 29.5 percent, making Spillett the safest seat in the Territory.

Lia Finocchiaro had already announced before the election that she would serve as her own police minister.

On 19 February 2025, whilst speaking at a Bombing of Darwin ceremony, Lia Finocchiaro garnered criticism when she opted to exclude traditional land owners from her opening remarks, notably the only speaker in attendance to do so, in what is Australia most heavily Indigenous populated territory.

Lia Finocchiaro later defended her decision not to acknowledge traditional owners, calling Aboriginal country acknowledgements 'divisive' and stating "there was absolutely no need".

Lia Finocchiaro is married to Sam Burke, the son of former NT chief minister Denis Burke.

Lia Finocchiaro is of Italian descent and has been "heavily involved in the NT's Italian community", including as CEO of the Italian Festival Association of the Northern Territory.

Lia Finocchiaro is a joint patron of the Young Professionals Network NT and a patron of the Palmerston Football Club, the Palmerston Combined Probus Club and the Palmerston Cricket Club.