Andrew Laming fails first step in political comeback

Former federal MP Andrew ­Laming has suffered a major blow to his political comeback after ­losing a vote to take over an LNP branch in Brisbane’s bayside.

Andrew Laming.

Former federal MP Andrew ­Laming has suffered a major blow to his political comeback after ­losing a vote to take over an LNP branch in Brisbane’s bayside.

In the first test of his numbers following his exit from federal politics at the last election, Dr Laming narrowly lost a vote for Oodgeroo branch chairman against incumbent Chris Reeves, 51-49, at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Dr Laming had publicly toyed with running at the October 2024 state election and LNP ­sources said he was considering vying for preselection against ­sitting ­Oodgeroo MP Mark ­Robinson.

Branch sources confirmed Mr Reeves retained his position as chairman after a more than two-hour meeting that was attended by LNP leader David Crisafulli.

Mark Robinson during the 2020 election campaign. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

In an email to branch members this week, Dr Laming had said he would “bring a sharper election-winning focus and will engage the public rather than the membership in our campaigns”.

He had outlined five commitments including to letterbox on “micro-issues and event promotion” and re-establish the “the after-hours live-studio to raise the media profile of our Redland elected representatives”.

Oodgeroo is a safe LNP seat and has been held by Mr Robinson since 2009.

Covering Brisbane’s southern bayside, including North Stradbroke Island, the electorate overlaps with Dr Laming’s former federal seat of Bowman which he had held for 18 years.

Dr Laming has previously blamed former prime minister Scott Morrison for cutting short his time in parliament, claiming he was not able to recontest ­Bowman because Mr Morrison “abandoned” him and tried to “convince me and others not to continue with my preselection ­application”.

In April 2021, the LNP’s ­applicant review committee ­recommended Dr Laming “not proceed as a candidate” in Bowman and reopened preselections in the seat.

It followed defamatory reports by the Nine network, which fasley accused Dr Laming of taking an “upskirting” photo of a woman at her Brisbane workplace.

Dr Laming was awarded a ­significant damages payout in September – the exact details of which have not been publicly ­disclosed – but it was understood to be among the highest defamation payouts to a current or former Australian politician.

In addition to his own failed run for Oodgeroo branch chairman, Dr Laming was unsuccessful in backing Shane ­Goodwin in a bid to be chairman of the Bowman federal divisional council, currently held by Robin Archer. Ms Archer won the vote which was also held on Wednesday night.

In emails to branch members, Dr Laming had said: “Shane and I understand the importance of fundraising, membership and policy to win elections”.

“Thank you for considering this most important question; who is best placed to guide the ­Bowman LNP through the complex and challenging local and state election campaigns,” Dr Laming wrote.

Meanwhile, the LNP will on Wednesday open preselections in three more state electorates – Nicklin, Bundaberg and Ferny Grove – in preparation for next year’s election.

Bundaberg and Nicklin are the two most marginal seats in the state, held by Labor on ­margins of 0.01 and 0.1 per cent respectively.