PM under pressure to sack Andrew Laming

The PM has been accused of a ‘cynical move’ as an embattled MP claims the ‘facts are on his side’ despite admitting to abusing women online.

Scott Morrison has been grilled over a “cynical move” by allowing Andrew Laming to remain in the Coalition as the Prime Minister announced a cabinet reshuffle aimed at promoting women.

Embattled MP Dr Laming is on leave while he undergoes empathy training after admitting to abusing female constituents online. He has announced he will not contest the next election.

But despite announcing a cabinet overhaul focused on elevating women on Monday, Mr Morrison rejected growing calls to expel Dr Laming to the crossbench.

Doing so would plunge the Coalition into minority government.

Channel 7 political editor Mark Riley told the Prime Minister “in any other workplace (Mr Laming) would be gone”, questioning whether he was being retained because “a number … you can’t afford to lose”.

“Why shouldn’t people just see this as a cynical move on your part?” he asked.

“If you stand up today, use that podium, that microphone and say, ‘As Prime Minister, I don’t want this bloke in the Liberal Party (and) I don’t want him in the parliament’, he’d be out.”

RELATED: Laming to stand aside from duties

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under pressure to expel Andrew Laming to the crossbench. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Morrison said Dr Laming had “committed to undertake behavioural change” and needed to “come back with a completely different attitude”.

“He was elected by the people in his electorate, that’s who he was elected by,” he said.

“He was elected to serve here three years, in this parliamentary term, and that’s what he intends to do.”

Sending Dr Laming to the crossbench would not prevent him from serving out his term as the member for Bowman.

It comes after the MP declared the “facts are on my side” over a slew of allegations against him.

In one incident, Dr Laming was accused of photographing a female worker bent over in a landscape supply business with her underwear exposed.

The woman, Crystal White, labelled the photo “inappropriate”.

But Dr Laming claimed the incident was innocuous.

He said he had sought permission to use photographs on “thousands” of occasions but conceded it “backfired that day”.

“I tried to capture a humorous image of someone completing what seemed like an impossible task and without it looking staged,” he said in a statement to Sky News.

Andrew Laming claims the ‘facts are on my side’ over a slew of allegations against him. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP Image

“The photo was taken from a distance, showing the worker in a dignified position on both knees but with far more stock to fit than the fridge would hold.”

He said he immediately apologised but had previously described the reaction of witnesses, who forced him to delete the picture, as “awkward”.

Dr Laming was blasted by colleagues for his behaviour and has announced he will not contest the next federal election.

But in a fiery interview on Monday, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg stopped short of calling for his immediate resignation from the party.

“The onus is on him to go through these training elections,” Mr Frydenberg told Today.

“He has acknowledged that his behaviour has been wrong and unacceptable. He’s got more work to do.”

But host Karl Stefanovic was not having it.

Josh Frydenberg has stopped short of calling for Mr Laming to go immediately. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

“Come on, Josh. The guy needs to go. He needs to put his hand up and take responsibility for his actions and get out,” Stefanovic said.

“Why wouldn’t you get rid of him before that? Are you afraid of a by-election?”

However, Mr Frydenberg was not taking the bait.

“I don’t think his behaviour is acceptable at all,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“In fact, I think it’s demeaning of women and he has, again, taken steps to correct his behaviour.

“In terms of his position in the parliament, he’s announced he’s not contesting the next election.

“He was elected by his constituents. He remains in the parliament.”

Labor leader Anthony Albanese also said Dr Laming was not “fit to continue” as a federal MP.

Expelling Dr Laming from the Coalition party room would plunge the government into a minority.

But independent senator Rex Patrick said Mr Morrison refusing to sack Mr Laming on political grounds would show the Prime Minister “putting his own needs ahead of the highest standards that are required”.

“I think part of the problem here is that the Prime Minister is not making strong decisions,” he told Sky News.

He said while sexual harassment was endemic across all facets of society, politicians “have to be the leaders” in tackling the problem.

Senator Rex Patrick says the PM is ‘not making strong decisions’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“People are supposed to look up to us as people that set the standards, and right now, people would be looking and saying quite rightfully that we’re not doing that,” he said.

“We have to lead this change right from the very top.”

Environment Minister Sussan Ley told Sunrise she expected the phones in Dr Laming’s electorate office to be “running hot”.

“There is a lot of dissatisfaction with his behaviour,” Ms Ley said.

“He stepped away and he said he is going to honestly consider his future, and I think that is a good thing.”

Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said Dr Laming’s actions were “totally unacceptable” but he deserved an opportunity to seek help.

Senator Ruston told ABC radio that Dr Laming was entitled to have a paid month off to complete the counselling under his employment standards.

“Let’s see if Mr Laming understands the impacts of his actions because, I think, he needs to understand that before he returns to the party room,” she said.

Dr Laming was elected to the parliament in 2004.