Female Liberal MPs slam scandal-hit Andrew Laming

Scandal-plagued Liberal MP Andrew Laming has requested privacy as he prepares to take medical leave and announces his resignation from politics.

Liberal MP Andrew Laming will quit politics at the next federal election and will not move to the crossbench.

The bombshell follows allegations he took a photograph of a woman bending over to fill a fridge with soft drinks – without her consent – and abused two women online to the point that one considered suicide.

“Last night I took health leave from all Parliamentary, electorate and committee work – effective today, with my office continuing to serve the community,” Dr Laming said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.

“Starting tomorrow, I will get assistance with courses in empathy and appropriate communication, not just to be a better MP, but to be a deeper and more empathic person than what the recent events have demonstrated.

“The common thread of the last week has been not demonstrating anything close to understanding how my actions affect others. I intend to own those mistakes.

“I will also be obtaining clinical counselling, for a duration decided by others, but I will aim to complete it by the next Parliamentary sitting. I intend to get that help immediately and at my own expense. I hope some privacy can be extended to me and my family in this time, and I ask my local community to be kind to them.

“Being elected by the people of Bowman at six consecutive elections has been the greatest honour of my life. I will not be contesting the next federal election in any capacity.”

His statement comes after Dr Laming’s resignation was announced without his consent by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, in a sign of fractured relations with the Liberal Party.

“Andrew has reflected on that conversation and decided not to recontest the next election,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Earlier on Sunday, several female Liberal MPs demanded Dr Laming get out of politics.

Dr Laming has taken medical leave effective immediately and news.com.au understands he is expected to enter a ‘rehab’-style facility for behavioural training for up to 30 days in regional NSW.

RELATED: Laming to quit parliament at election

Senator Sarah Henderson slammed her colleague today. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said during a press conference that Laming should quit immediately.

“What we’ve seen from this Member is someone who trolls and bullies women online, his own constituents, bringing one to despair and to think about ending her own life,” he said.

“We’ve seen him hide in bushes in order to photograph and video a constituent and we’ve seen him take photos up a woman’s skirt in that woman’s workplace.

“That’s a crime.”

Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson and Liberal MP Katie Allen also said to Insiders Dr Laming should quit politics at the next election.

Dr Allen said Dr Laming had been in parliament for 17 years and it was the right time “to reconsider his future.”

“What’s he been doing is completely outrageous and I’m very pleased he’s going to take some time off,” Dr Allen said.

Victorian MP Sarah Henderson also suggested she also hoped he would quit and not contest the next election.

“I’m not comfortable with the conduct and I hope that Andrew makes the right decision. I do,” Senator Henderson told the ABC.

“He needs to have a pretty serious look at whether he’s going to recontest the next election.”

Dr Laming has denied taking “an inappropriate photo with malicious intent” of a woman bending over to fill a soft drink machine.

“It was immediately obvious to me after taking the photograph that it should not have been taken,’’ Dr Laming said.

“I apologised to the staff who did ask me what I was doing; and I deleted the image at that moment and showed them I had.”

“I will step down from all parliamentary roles effective immediately and complete both the counselling courses as well as additional clinical support, and ask for privacy while that is completed. I will have more to say on my future as soon as that process is completed.”

The comments by the female MPs on Dr Laming’s future are far more strident than the PM who suggested he do a behaviour course.

“I spoke with him again this morning, and I’m arranging for Dr Laming to get appropriate assistance with a private course, to build his understanding and awareness about his actions,” the Prime Minister said on Saturday.

“What I want to see from him is to see his behaviour change.”

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggested Dr Laming do a behaviour course. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

“There are conscious malevolent acts that are undertaken to discriminate against women and make women feel unsafe. There are also many unconscious acts born out of a lack of understanding and appreciation and awareness. We have to address both of those things.”

Right now, the Prime Minister still has a majority of 76 seats in the 151 seat Parliament, but when you account for the Speaker Tony Smith who traditionally does not vote the working numbers on the floor are now down to 75 seats.

Dr Laming has been slammed as “a perve” for taking a mobile phone photo of a woman’s bottom when she was bending over – without her consent – in the latest allegations of bad behaviour engulfing the Morrison Government.

Brisbane mother Crystal White told Nine News Queensland that her underwear was visible in the photo and she demanded he delete the image in 2019.

The MP took the photo as Ms White bent over to restock a fridge with soft drinks.

“The photo was really inappropriate, especially when I was bent over,” Ms White told Nine News.

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