Andrew Laming accused of spending $12k office allowance to promote LNP candidate Henry Pike

Federal MP Andrew Laming has come under fire for the second time this week with new claims he used his electorate allowance to pay for campaign material for an incoming LNP candidate.

Federal MP Andrew Laming, inset middle, has come under fire for the second time this week with new claims he used his electorate allowance to pay for campaign material for an incoming LNP candidate. Capalaba MP Don Brown, top, told State Parliament on Thursday he believed Mr Laming, the retiring Bowman MP, had used his allowance to pay for the production and distribution of fliers promoting the new LNP candidate, Henry Pike, bottom. Mr Laming said he had not broken any rules and government allowances could be used to include new candidates.

Federal MP Andrew Laming has come under fire for the second time this week with new claims he used his electorate allowance to pay for campaign material for an incoming LNP candidate.

Capalaba MP Don Brown told State Parliament on Thursday he believed Mr Laming, the retiring Bowman MP, had used his allowance to pay for the production and distribution of fliers promoting the new LNP candidate, Henry Pike.

Mr Laming said he had not broken any rules and allowances could be used to promote government achievements, which included new candidates.

He said there was a fixed annual budget of $125,000 for electorate communications which covered printing, postage and communications.

“Across the nation, rules are clear that government achievements can include a new candidate,” he said.

“It’s all centrally approved before printing. Any MP can promote achievements in a brochure and mention a candidate as well. All seats and all parties do it.

“Both sides do it and if it wasn’t legit, I wouldn’t do it.

“Only Labor MPs get upset with this, and in the coming years there will be one less of them.”

On Wednesday, a parliamentary expenses watchdog report found Mr Laming had claimed travel expenses for trips that were not predominantly parliamentary business, allegations Mr Laming denied.

Mr Brown used parliamentary privilege to call on Mr Pike to repay the money, believed to be more than $12,000, to get the flyer printed and delivered to Bowman’s 98,330 voters.

Mr Pike, a Property Council adviser, said Mr Laming issued the flyer as part of a regular Bowman update to his electorate.

“It is entirely within the rules,” Mr Pike said. “It’s not my jurisdiction as it is Andrew’s allowance and he got it all ticked off at the federal level with the correct department approvals.

“I will not be responding to Don Brown’s ridiculous parliamentary musings which are only wasting parliament’s time.”

Mr Brown told parliament Bowman needed a change and a candidate with integrity.

“The voters of Bowman are sick of the rorts,” Mr Brown told parliament.

“It is unbelievable that Andrew Laming is not paying this back. I call on him to pay back the taxpayers’ money and I call on Henry Pike to do the right thing by paying back the cost of that flyer.

“He should not use taxpayers’ money to promote himself as a candidate in the election.”

Mr Pike won the LNP’s endorsement after Mr Laming decided not to recontest the seat following allegations of harassing behaviour and legal battles over online stories.

BOWMAN candidates for the federal election 2022: clockwise from top left: ALP's Donisha Duff; LNP's Henry Pike; The New Liberal's Phil Johnson; outgoing MP Andrew Laming; United Australia Party's Mary-Jane Stevens; and The Greens Ian Mazlin.

Sportsbet had the Bowman coalition candidate ahead of the Labor candidate, Donisha Duff. Both would be first-time federal MPs if elected.

United Australia Party’s Mary-Jane Stevens was an outside chance to win the seat with the Greens candidate Ian Mazlin at slightly better odds.

Mr Pike met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week when the $1.8 billion City Deal was announced in Brisbane.

He has overcome publicity about “fatshaming” comments he made 20 years ago and launched a grassroots campaign based on ensuring no parking fees at the Redland Hospital.

Ms Duff has voiced her opinion on building 3500 units at the Toondah Harbour port, where barges leave for North Stradbroke Island.

Mr Laming said he was looking forward to going back to work as an ophthalmologist and helping indigenous people in remote electorates.