Brindal entered parliament at the 1989 election, successfully running for the seat of Hayward. At the 1993 election he ran again, winning the seat of Unley. Prior to 1993 it had been held by the Labor Party. The electoral redistribution ahead of the 2002 election had a large effect on Unley, losing several suburbs west of Goodwood Road and gaining several suburbs east of Fullarton Road, changing Unley from a marginal seat to a fairly safe to safe Liberal seat in one stroke.