Health watchdog asked to probe doctor MP Andrew Laming

Controversial Coalition MP and registered doctor Andrew Laming has been referred to Queensland’s health watchdog for inappropriate behaviour.

LNP MP Andrew Laming. Picture: AAP

Controversial Coalition MP and registered doctor Andrew Laming has been referred to Queensland’s health watchdog for inappropriate behaviour, as the Liberal National Party reopened nominations for preselection for his safe Brisbane seat.

Dr Laming has been forced to quit at the next federal election, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison scolded him for allegedly harassing female constituents online and taking an inappropriate photograph of a young woman with her underwear exposed.

Sydney specialist Stephen Thornley referred Dr Laming – a registered ophthalmologist – to Queensland’s Health Ombudsman asking the allegations be investigated to determine his fitness to hold medical registration. He said the alleged misbehaviour by Dr Laming was “extremely disturbing” and “deeply concerning”, particularly as he was a registered doctor.

The ombudsman’s office responded to say it was “managing the situation”.

A spokesman for the Office of the Health Ombudsman told The Australian it was aware of the “recent allegations” made against Dr Laming but said he could not comment on individual matters for privacy reasons and to protect the integrity of “any investigations that may be undertaken”.

The veteran politician has denied harassing women online, insisting he was merely asking the “hard questions”, and said the photo was a “completely dignified” image of a young woman crouching over to fill a fridge in a local landscaping business.

It comes as the LNP executive met on Wednesday night, voting to reopen nominations for preselection in Dr Laming’s safe Brisbane bayside seat of Bowman.

Before he quit under a cloud, nominations for preselection had closed, and only one rival candidate had put up her hand, businesswoman Fran Ward, chair of the LNP’s small business policy committee. Ms Ward does not live in the electorate, a point that has upset some branch members, although she was originally approached by locals to run.

Mr Morrison has made it clear privately that he would like to see a woman replace Dr Laming, and was expected to dispatch newly appointed Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, the most senior LNP woman MP in Queensland, to be involved in the preselection.

Since Dr Laming announced his resignation, there’s been a push for the LNP to reopen nominations, with the party’s religious right backing former state Redlands candidate Henry Pike. LNP sources said Redlands mayor Karen Williams and barrister Maggie Forrest, the LNP’s honorary legal adviser, were also considering nominating. Local branch president Craig Luxton is also being mentioned as a possible candidate.

LNP senator Amanda Stoker released a statement on Tuesday denying speculation she would nominate for Bowman, confirming she had nominated for a place on the Liberal Senate ticket.

State MP Mark Robinson said he was seriously considering running should preselection be reopened, after being approached by locals.

One LNP member said women in the party were “absolutely outraged” that there was a push to reopen nominations to disadvantage Ms Ward. “Have they not learnt anything at all about the current situation in Canberra?” the member said.

Ms Williams and Mr Pike – who works for Queensland’s Property Council as a media and policy adviser – didn’t return calls from The Australian, and Ms Forrest said she could not comment on internal party matters.

LNP sources said if Mr Morrison continued to push for a woman candidate, it could drive locals to back a man, because the Queensland party did not like being told what to do.

Dr Laming was first elected to the seat of Bowman in 2004.