By Kishor Napier-Raman and Stephen Brook
At CBD, we are often in the business of wondering “Where are they now?” about some of our more colourful former politicians.
In the case of Andrew Laming, the former Liberal National MP who was forced into “empathy training” by then-prime minister Scott Morrison in 2021, you are most likely to find him these days in a courtroom.
Laming has been engaged in a three-year legal battle with the Australian Electoral Commission, now set to be resolved by the High Court. In late 2021, the commission began proceedings against the former member for Bowman over Facebook posts made before the 2019 election which lacked a required authorisation statement declaring his political links.
Last year, the Federal Court found posts on a Facebook page called “Redland Hospital: Let’s fight for fair funding” failed to disclose Laming’s name and place of residence, in contravention of electoral laws, fining him $20,000, following a hearing where the former MP briefly represented himself.
But the commission successfully appealed that decision, arguing he had made further contraventions. The Full Federal Court agreed, doubling his fine to $40,000 in August. Laming’s counter-appeal was simultaneously dismissed.
But the legal saga is set to continue into 2025, after the nation’s top court last week agreed to hear Laming’s appeal, with a hearing potentially in April or May. Both Laming and the AEC declined to comment.
This is far from Laming’s only courtroom stoush with a regulator. In 2022, the Inter-Parliamentary Expenses Authority asked Laming to repay $10,360 in taxpayer-funded travel expenses relating to a 2019 trip. After refusing to repay a cent, and accusing the expenditure watchdog of orchestrating a witch-hunt, Laming applied for judicial review of that decision some 15 months later. In March, the Federal Court rejected his challenge over the expenses.
Meanwhile, the former backbencher unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Redland City Council just outside of Brisbane. A feisty election involved … you guessed it, another legal battle, with the Queensland Supreme Court blocking him from using placards falsely linking his independent rival to the Greens.
Laming was disendorsed by the Queensland LNP in 2021 after being accused of trolling two female constituents online. He was forced to apologise for the behaviour and undertake counselling, but later withdrew that apology.
In a tell-all tome written after the end of his political career, Laming accused Morrison of making him a scapegoat for that government’s trouble with female voters. Since moving on, he’s generated nearly enough courtroom intrigue for a sequel.
Butt out
This week, CBD heard from a few mildly alarmed inmates of Parliament House in Canberra, worried that Senate President Sue Lines was planning to ban smoking outside two entrances to the upper house chamber.
For the big house’s few remaining durry munchers – including staffers, maintenance staff, and press gallery hacks – the area outside those entrances are popular places to light up.
They need not be alarmed. Yet. We hear Parliament House’s smoking policy is up for review, a process which will involve consultation with the affected parties – including the press gallery, we’re told. What’s causing a bit of concern is that since the policy was last updated, in 2014, automatic doors have been installed near the chamber, meaning the smoke-free area could be extended.
“The department can confirm that the APH smoking policy is currently under review,” the ever helpful Department of Parliamentary Services told us in a statement.
But any changes probably won’t be signed off on by the presiding officers – that’s Lines and House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick. Plenty of time to quit, or switch to vapes, which despite what Mark Butler will tell you, haven’t gone away.
Warded off
We last encountered independent MP Gareth Ward when he showed up outside parliament at 4am in a state of undress, earning the ire of Premier Chris Minns. Ward, who says he was locked out of his apartment, vehemently denied being drunk, and disputed the characterisation of his state of undress.
His constituents in Berry, meanwhile, got to see Ward in rather different attire on the weekend. The local MP led the Berry Merry Christmas Parade through the South Coast hamlet on Saturday, decked out in a kind of ye olde town crier costume, replete with a wig, frilly collar, pirate hat and bell. For reasons. He’s been doing it for years, we hear.
Gareth Ward at the Berry Merry Christmas ParadeCredit: Facebook.
Ward, a former Liberal who moved to the crossbench after being charged with historical sex offences (which he denies and is defending at a trial next year), won his electorate of Kiama as an independent last year, and remains a popular local member. Maybe it’s the dress-ups.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.