Tony Windsor retracts ‘false’ Josh Frydenberg claim over Andrew Laming
Former independent MP Tony Windsor has apologised after claiming the Treasurer endorsed Andrew Laming’s behaviour.
Former independent MP Tony Windsor has been forced to apologise to Josh Frydenberg after claiming the Liberal Party deputy leader had endorsed embattled LNP MP Andrew Laming’s upskirting photography as “acceptable behaviour”.
The Treasurer said following a letter from his lawyers, Mr Windsor had retracted his false claim, which accused Mr Frydenberg of missing an “opportunity to stay above Morrison’s standards”.
“Today Tony Windsor retracted his false claim that I provided an ‘endorsement’ of Andrew Laming’s behaviour as ‘acceptable’. He has now deleted his tweet and apologised to me,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“I accept his apology which followed a letter from my lawyers to him alleging his tweet was defamatory and asking for it to be immediately withdrawn.”
Mr Windsor on Tuesday said he did not mean to “infer that Josh Frydenberg endorsed the actual photography”.
In a recent tweet I said @joshFrydenberg would regret his endorsement of Andrew Laming’s upskirting photography as acceptable behaviour to be in the Liberal Party room.
— Tony Windsor (@TonyHWindsor) March 29, 2021
I did not mean to infer that Josh Frydenberg endorsed the actual photography.1/2
2/2 I know Josh well enough to know he would not do that. My point was that Josh & Liberals have endorsed Laming’s presence in the party room fully knowing his misdemeanours.
— Tony Windsor (@TonyHWindsor) March 29, 2021
I have deleted the original tweet & apologise to Josh for my clumsy tweet.
“I know Josh well enough to know he would not do that. My point was that Josh & Liberals have endorsed Laming’s presence in the party room fully knowing his misdemeanours. I have deleted the original tweet & apologise to Josh for my clumsy tweet,” Mr Windsor tweeted.
The apology by Mr Windsor continues the pushback from senior Morrison government ministers against online trolling.
Greens senator Larissa Waters was also forced to issue an “unreserved” apology to Defence Minister Peter Dutton after labelling him a “rape apologist”.
Speaking on 2GB last week, Mr Dutton said “there has to be a red line … her comments against me, I just thought, completely crossed the line”.
“I’m not going to be defamed in that way,” Mr Dutton said.
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