LNP candidate for Tennyson resigns over text message scandal

A LIBERAL National Party candidate has gone into hiding after an embarrassing text message exchange surfaced.

Facebook image from Ashley Higgin's Council Election page.

A LIBERAL National Party candidate has gone into hiding after an embarrassing text message exchange surfaced.

Two days ago, Ashley Higgins’ candidacy for the South Brisbane ward of Tennyson included a Facebook page and details on the LNP’s website. Today, both have been deleted.

Mr Higgins is accused of sending and receiving explicit images in an exchange with a teenager in 2011. At the time, the political hopeful was 21 years old and a minister at a Brisbane Catholic school attended by the teen.

The Courier Mail reported Mr Higgins resigned from the party on Monday night after the scandal was made public.

It is alleged Mr Higgins was sent a picture of the teen’s penis before sending one of his own in response. The boy’s father made a formal complaint to the school but was told the matter would remain confidential, the newspaper reported.

The LNP released a statement confirming Mr Higgins’ resignation.

“The LNP has accepted Ashley Higgins’ resignation as the candidate for Tennyson Ward,” the statement read.

“Mr Higgins has also resigned as a member of the party. The LNP expects the highest standards of its candidates and these standards have not been met in this instance.”

Mr Higgins’ resignation comes too late for his name to be withdrawn from Saturday’s poll, AAP reported.

A photo of Ashley Higgins and Malcolm Turnbull that appeared on Ashley Higgin's Council Election Facebook page.