Labor senator Kristina Keneally quietly deletes tweet about Liberal MP Dr Andrew Laming

Labor senator Kristina Keneally faces legal action over a series of tweets she posted about Liberal MP Andrew Laming that falsely accused him of upskirting a woman.

Labor Deputy Leader Kristina Keneally is facing legal action. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone.

Senator Kristina Keneally has quietly deleted a tweet that falsely accused Liberal MP Andrew Laming of upskirting a woman, amid ongoing legal action by the Queensland politician.

The Labor senator has been issued multiple concerns notices from Dr Laming’s lawyers over the past year relating to tweets she made in 2021 that falsely accused him of upskirting a woman.

It is understood that after Ms Keneally was contacted again by Dr Laming’s lawyers earlier this month she subsequently deleted a controversial tweet she posted last year about him.

In the tweet she wrote: “Andrew Laming is not fit to be a Member of parliament – he inappropriately photographed a woman while she was bending over.”

She went on to say in the post that he “bullied women” and should be stripped of his position as chair of a parliamentary committee and removed from the party room and parliament.

Senator Keneally’s decision to remove the controversial tweet comes amid revelations by The Australian of allegations she was involved in the bullying of the late Labor senator Kimberley Kitching prior to her death.

Dr Laming has taken extensive legal action against many high-profile people, including politicians and journalists, who falsely accused him of the upskirting offence.

Andrew Laming has taken action over false accusations of upskirting. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AUSPIC

This included ABC Four Corners investigative journalist Louise Milligan, who posted a series of tweets about Dr Laming that he claimed “irrevocably damaged his personal and professional reputation”.

Milligan posted “Laming upskirts” on her Twitter account last year after 29-year-old Crystal White accused the Queensland politician of taking a photo of her while she was bent over at a Brisbane landscaping business in 2019.

Milligan deleted the tweet but refused to apologise. Milligan engaged external law firm Bird & Bird to represent her and the public broadcaster covered her legal costs, which amassed to more than $200,000, including $79,000 in damages that was paid to Dr Laming.

Auditor-General Grant Hehir later found the ABC had no “policy, precedent or process” to support the decision to foot the bill for the defamatory comments Milligan made from her personal Twitter account.

“There is no documented advice … prepared to ­support the ­appropriateness of the decision to meet the costs of an employee,” he said.

Dr Laming denied taking the photo under a woman’s skirt and said it was a “completely dignified” picture of a woman in her workplace “kneeling in an awkward position and filling a fridge with an impossible amount of stock, which clearly wasn’t going to fit in the fridge”.

The allegation was investigated by Queensland Police who cleared Dr Laming of any wrongdoing.

Senator Keneally’s office was contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline.

Dr Laming declined to comment on the matter.