Dumped plonker MP Peter Dowling has ‘no regrets’

HE’S been linked to several scandals but plonker MP Peter Dowling says he has “no regrets” about his actions which led to his dumping.

PLONKER MP Peter Dowling says he has “no regrets” about the actions which led to his dumping but will not nominate in the next preselection round for his seat of Redlands.

Speaking out yesterday about the end of his political career he said he had never set out to hurt anyone, but politics was a brutal numbers game, the branch had spoken and decision it had made was final.

LNP Redlands branch members voted on Saturday night to dump the two-term MP, who has been dogged by sex and porn scandals, as their preselected candidate.

Life as a political commentator could be the next step for the controversial MP, who gained infamy for sending his mistress pictures of his penis plonked in a wine glass, and taking her along with him on parliamentary trips.

DUMPED: LNP shows Dowling the door

PORN: Dowling in online sex scandal

It was also recently revealed a graphic pornography site had been ‘‘liked” on Mr Dowling’s Facebook page, but the MP insisted he was not responsible.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the grassroots LNP branch members made their choice, but denied it conflicted with the executive.

Mr Dowling yesterday said he would not be renominating.

“What’s the point? The branch said ‘no thanks’ and I respect that decision,” he said.

“It’s a numbers game and the numbers didn’t fall my way.

“It’s robust, it’s brutal, but it’s final.”

Mr Dowling said he had no regrets about his actions, despite them ultimately leading to his downfall.

“I have no regrets in my life at all other than when people get hurt,” he said.

“I have never deliberately set out to hurt someone.

“I don’t live my life looking backwards asking ‘what if’.”

He said he could not imagine circumstances where he would seek office again.

Mr Dowling said he was “seriously considering” becoming a political commentator when his term was up, but had no specific plans on what to do after the election.

“I’m not pretty enough for television, maybe radio, maybe print,” he said.

He would not answer questions regarding his wife supporting him, despite his very public indiscretion.

Helen Dowling stood by her husband on Saturday night saying he was “not perfect but he is effective”.

Labor’s candidate for Redlands Deb Kellie, a barrister, was upbeat about her chances when she launched her campaign yesterday, despite needing a swing of more than 20 per cent to win the LNP seat.