Lisa Wilkinson apologises for defaming ex-MP Andrew Laming

Lisa Wilkinson has apologised to Andrew Laming for wrongfully claiming he had taken an inappropriate photo of a woman.

Lisa Wilkinson says ‘I unconditionally withdraw that claim and apologise to Dr Laming for any hurt and offence caused to him by reason of my conduct’. Picture: Getty Images

TV host Lisa Wilkinson has issued a grovelling apology to former federal MP Andrew Laming, conceding she defamed him by wrongfully claiming he had taken an inappropriate photo of a woman.

On Sunday afternoon, Wilkinson, who co-hosts The Project on Network Ten, posted on Twitter: “On March 2021, I published a tweet about Andrew Laming. I now accept that the claim made about Dr Laming in that tweet was false and defamatory.

In March 2021, I published a tweet about Andrew Laming.  I now accept that the claim made about Dr Laming in that tweet was false and defamatory.  I unconditionally withdraw that claim and apologise to Dr Laming for any hurt and offence caused to him by reason of my conduct.

— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) June 12, 2022

“I unconditionally withdraw that claim and apologise to Dr Laming for any hurt and offence caused to him by reason of my conduct.”

Wilkinson’s apology relates to an incident at a bayside Brisbane landscaping business in 2019, when Dr Laming took a photo of staffer Crystal White as she was stacking a fridge.

Ms White subsequently lodged a complaint with police in March last year.

Andrew Laming. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

The police investigated the matter; the Queensland MP was cleared within hours.

But in the wake of the allegation, several high-profile journalists and politicians wrongfully stated that Dr Laming had in fact committed a criminal act.

Around that time, Wilkinson had tweeted: “Meanwhile upskirter @AndrewLamingMP says he wants privacy. God help us all.”

Star ABC reporter Louise Milligan posted: “Laming upskirts.”

Labor senator Kristina Keneally wrote on Twitter: “Andrew Laming is not fit to be a member of parliament – he inappropriately photographed a woman while she was bending over.”

Dr Laming took legal action against those who had defamed him.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Queensland Labor MP Don Brown, Crikey editor William Bowe, Labor senator Murray Watt, former senator Derryn Hinch and news.com.au journalist Eliza Barr apologised to Dr Laming within weeks of him requesting them to do so.

No further legal action against them was taken.

Ten’s political reporter Tegan George and journalist and author Georgie Dent each posted online apologies to Dr Laming last year.

In August last year, Milligan agreed to pay Dr Laming $79,000 in damages. It later emerged that the ABC covered all legal costs in the case, amounting to $200,000.

Wilkinson is not required to pay financial damages to Dr Laming as a result of her tweet.

Dr Laming welcomed Wilkinson’s apology. His defamation action against Nine is listed in the Federal Court in October.