Dumped Redlands MP Andrew Laming remorseless over his behaviour towards women

Dumped Morrison government MP Andrew Laming has doubled down, telling constituents he’s unrepentant over his behaviour towards women who, he claims, were not “genuine”.

Dumped Morrison Government MP Andrew Laming is back on the attack, telling constituents he’s unrepentant over behaviour towards women, which led to his disendorsement by the LNP.

The Redlands-based Member for Bowman was cut loose by the LNP in April after a scandal in which he was accused of harassing two female constituents online, and saw him hauled into Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office.

Police also investigated an allegation that he had taken a photo of a young woman bending over in a skirt, but detectives determined there was ‘no evidence to indicate a criminal offence’.

Andrew Laming is back on the attack. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Dr Laming, who has held Bowman since 2004, went on medical leave to undertake empathy training and counselling and was disendorsed by the LNP after refusing to formally withdraw his nomination to contest the next election.

He also apologised to the two women he was accused of harassing.

In a letter to constituents last week, Dr Laming said the ‘media madness’ over his alleged harassment had ‘amounted to nothing’.

“It was important to me to apologise to anyone ‘genuinely upset’ by political debate,” he wrote in the letter on official parliamentary letterhead.

“Turns out none of them were ‘genuine’. They simply had their own political reasons for not appreciating my questions.

“All my communication is legitimate and work-related. That is why all my posts remain online and unaltered. It’s also why I never stopped doing the job for Redlands I am elected by you to do.”

Labor politician Penny Wong at the Andrew Laming Protest at Cleveland. Picture: Annette Dew

Dr Laming said this year alone, he had ‘championed a plethora of projects, many of which are now a reality’.

“The job is not done. I will continue to serve our Redlands community now and into the future,” he wrote.

“Thank you sincerely for all the astounding and humbling support this year.”

The LNP last month endorsed Property Council of Australia media and communications director Henry Pike to replace Dr Laming as its Bowman candidate.

The decision went against the wishes of Mr Morrison, who had told the party he wanted a ‘strong female candidate’ to replace Dr Laming.

Mr Pike was the sole male candidate in the preselection battle but convincingly defeated young lawyer Maggie Forrest for the nomination.

His preselection prompted the resignation of the Bowman LNP branch chair Craig Luxton.

In May, protesters including Dr Laming’s three female accusers and Labor Senator Penny Wong marched through Redlands calling on him to resign from parliament.