Controversial MP Andrew Laming disendorsed by Queensland LNP

Andrew Laming has been disendorsed after refusing to formally withdraw his nomination to contest the next election.

Queensland MP Andrew Laming was disendorsed after refusing to withdraw his nomination. Picture: WP media

Coalition MP Andrew Laming has been disendorsed by Queensland’s Liberal National Party after refusing to formally withdraw his nomination to contest the next federal election for the Morrison government.

After a month of controversy over his alleged harassment of women, a Monday night meeting of the LNP state executive voted to block Dr Laming’s nomination for preselection in his safe Brisbane bayside seat of Bowman.

Dr Laming had earlier fronted the LNP’s candidate vetting committee, headed by former Queensland Liberal state president Bob Tucker, which recommended his nomination not be accepted.

LNP sources said Dr Laming has assured party officials he will continue to support the Morrison government, which holds power with a one-seat majority.

Dr Laming had last month ­announced he would not recontest the seat he has held since 2004, but still refused to withdraw his existing nomination for preselection, forcing his ousting by the party’s governing body.

He now stand to pocket a taxpayer-funded “resettlement” payment of $105,600, or six months salary, after he was formally disendorsed by the LNP. Under parliament rules, a politician who “retires involuntarily” from parliament — including through loss of party endorsement or for reasons other than misconduct — may be eligible for the one-off handout.

The LNP’s state executive voted last month to reopen nominations for the seat after Dr Laming announced he would not seek another term in parliament.

Businesswoman and LNP small business policy committee chair Fran Ward was the only nominee to put up her hand to run against Dr Laming before the latest revelations.

LNP sources said the state executive had narrowly voted to reopen the nominations in ­defiance of Scott Morrison’s wishes for the party to move ahead with Ms Ward as the candidate.

“The PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) was pushing for the party to shut it down and move ahead with Ward but they voted to ­reopen,’’ one source said.

Dr Laming, who could not reached for comment, had consistently refused to withdraw his nomination but told the vetting committee he had no intention of recontesting.

A LNP source said the “principle reason” his nomination was rejected was that he had already publicly declared he would not be standing again.

“He told his local branch members he wasn’t standing, he confirmed that he had approved Josh Frydenberg’s statement he was quitting and there were several other times he said he wasn’t going to run,’’ the source said. “He said he will accept the decision.’’

The Prime Minister made it clear privately last month that he would like to see a woman replace Dr Laming.

Ms Ward is understood to have wide support in the party, but will now face challengers.

Maggie Forrest, a barrister and honorary legal ­officer for the party, and former candidate for the state seat of Redlands Henry Pike have both been touted as possible candidates for preselection. Mr Pike has the backing of the party’s religious right.

LNP sources said Redlands mayor Karen Williams would be a frontrunner if she nominated.

Dr Laming has been the subject of a number of allegations that he harassed women in his electorate. He apologised to them in parliament last month.

He has also denied taking an ­inappropriate photograph of a young female staff member bending over at a local business in his electorate, saying the image was “completely dignified”.