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Andrew Charles Laming (born 30 September 1966) is an Australian medical doctor and former politician. He was a Liberal Party member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Bowman for the Liberal National Party of Queensland from 2004 to 2022.

Key Information

Laming was a medical practitioner and a management consultant before entering politics. He is the son of former Queensland state Liberal MP Bruce Laming, who held the seat of Mooloolah from 1992 until 2001, and served as Deputy Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Laming was born on 30 September 1966 in Hobart, Tasmania.[3] He was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School.[4] He studied medicine at the University of Queensland and is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. He also holds a Diploma in obstetrics and gynaecology from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University, a Master of Public Policy from Charles Darwin University and a Master of Philosophy in Public Health from the University of Sydney. He has worked in public health, economics, ophthalmology.[5][3]

Medical career

[edit]

After graduating from the University of Queensland in 1990,[5] Laming worked as a rural GP in Gundagai, New South Wales, and the rural Queensland towns of Goondiwindi, Mungindi, Dirranbandi and St George. In 1991, he researched anterior cruciate ligament injuries at the Perisher ski fields. In 1992, he worked as a gym manager and rigger in South Africa[3] as well as three months in Afghanistan clearing land mines with the British charity Halo Trust[6] and doing basic war surgery with the International Council of the Red Cross in Kabul.[7][8] He continued obstetric training in 1993 with a diploma of obstetrics in Bromley and Farnborough Hospital in the UK.[5]

Laming worked in the Northern Territory community of Lajamanu in 1995, combining ophthalmic surgery training and public health.[9] As part of a Master of Philosophy in Public Health, he was the principal researcher in evaluating single dose azithromycin for mass treatment of trachoma. This treatment became standard practice partly as a result of Laming's research.[10] He conducted eye disease surveys across the top end as an ophthalmic registrar and co-founded "RedANT" – Australia's first mobile eye disease database, earning a Master of Public Policy from Charles Darwin University in 2000.[9]

In 1999, Laming established FIDO – Friends In Deed Organisation – while completing ophthalmology training at Sydney Eye Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital. FIDO was Australia's first internet-based volunteering service which partners skilled volunteers with not-for-profit organisations. Fido is now operated by The Centre for Volunteering in New South Wales and in 2006 it became known as Fido Skilled Volunteer Search.[11]

In 2000, while studying for a Master of Public Administration at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Laming was one of three people who established the now annual Kennedy School Review.[12][3] He co-authored Let's Go Turkey in 2001 before joining the World Bank Group's Health Nutrition and Population section in Washington DC.[3] He then worked with the East Timor Transitional Authority as Health Planning Specialist as the country's health system was rebuilt.[13][14]

At the 2001 federal election, Laming unsuccessfully challenged Con Sciacca in the federal seat of Bowman.[15][16]

In 2002, Laming was employed as then Health Minister Kay Patterson's medical and public health advisor, then worked as an ophthalmologist, and a public sector consultant to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.[9][17]

Laming was one of seven Liberal MPs in the 46th Parliament of Australia who had obtained degrees at an Oxbridge or Ivy League university, the others being Alan Tudge, Angus Taylor, Josh Frydenberg, Dave Sharma, Greg Hunt and Paul Fletcher.[18]

Parliamentary career

[edit]

After the 2004 federal redistribution in Queensland, Sciacca nominated for the newly created seat of Bonner, which contained historically safe Labor areas formerly in Bowman, and Laming secured the now notionally Liberal seat of Bowman, centred on Redland City.[19]

In his first parliamentary term, Laming was appointed to represent the government on the UNESCO National Commission and in 2005, he participated in the International Election Observer Mission as an observer of the election of Bougainville's first autonomous government.[20]

In 2006, he was a contributor to the debate on a bill to lift the ban on the "abortion pill" RU486. He said that while undergoing post-graduate training in obstetrics and gynaecology in London, he was required to perform late-term abortions which he found "harrowing".[21] He introduced an amendment to the bill, which would give Parliament a right of veto over the quasi-autonomous government drug regulator – the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). He failed to win support for the amendment and ultimately supported the bill.[22][23]

At the 2007 federal election, it initially appeared on election night as if Laming had lost Bowman to Labor rival Jason Young on a large swing. However, counting of pre-poll votes which progressed over the next couple of weeks placed Laming marginally ahead, and the Australian Electoral Commission eventually declared him the winner on a 0.04-point margin – just 64 votes ahead – having suffered a two-party-preferred swing of 8.86 points, compared with the Queensland state average of 7.53 points.[24][25]

At the 2010 federal election, Laming was re-elected to the seat of Bowman with a swing of more than 10 points.[26] He was subsequently promoted to the position of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health Services and Indigenous Health and onto the front bench.[27] Through this shadow portfolio, Laming was critical of the Government's handling of intervention in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.[28]

Throughout his political career, Laming has served on a number of parliamentary committees. These include the House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 2004 to 2007, the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit from 2004 to 2007, the House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 2006 to 2010, the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties in 2007, and the House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Employment and Workplace Relations in 2008.[3]

In May 2013, Laming announced that he would maintain his registration as an eye specialist by applying to the newly constituted AHPRA; stating that this would give him the opportunity to volunteer in Aboriginal communities to perform eye exams and screen for disease to save surgeons time.[29] The Medical Board of Australia granted Laming six time extensions to complete the required paperwork and an unsuccessful application leading to an order to pay the Medical Board's legal costs, Laming's second AHPRA application was successful.[30]

In 2006, Laming supported reform of the PBS, but his proposed changes caused backlash from the Pharmacy Guild.[31]

In 2018, he supported Peter Dutton's calls to treat white South African farmers as refugees.[32] Laming's support of the bill has been linked to a view expounded by the NSW Young Nationals used to influence the party to adopt alt-right views in a report[33] by the ABC.[34] The attempt to prioritise white South African farmers, who are sometimes targets of attacks, above other humanitarian crises at the time was labelled as "'dog-whistling' to racist voters" by opponents of the bill.[35] Elected to the House of Representatives for Bowman, Queensland in 2004 and re-elected in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019, he retired prior to the general election in 2022 after several controversies.[36]

Controversies

[edit]

In 2007, Laming and fellow Queensland Liberal MPs Gary Hardgrave and Ross Vasta were investigated and subsequently cleared of breaches relating to parliamentary entitlements. This included A$67,000 for printing campaign material and Laming's five-day employment of a staff member who worked in the office of Hardgrave. There was speculation in the media and the Queensland Parliament that funds had been diverted to the Liberals' 2006 state election campaign.[37] On 2 March 2007, the Australian Federal Police conducted a search on the three MPs' electoral offices as well as those of a printing company and a graphic artist.[38][39]

On 13 August, Ross Vasta was cleared and Gary Hardgrave was cleared on 11 September.[40] Vasta had admitted making an "administrative error" during the investigation, and repaid nearly $24,000.[41] On 28 September 2007, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions announced that there were not "reasonable prospects of conviction for a criminal offence against Dr Laming", effectively clearing him.[42][43]

In January 2013, in response to clashes between groups of Indigenous Australians and Pacific Islanders in Logan, Queensland, Laming twice posted the following statement on Twitter: "Mobs tearing up Logan tonight. Did any of them do a day's work today, or was it business as usual and welfare on tap?"[44] The federal Labor ministers Penny Wong and Craig Emerson subsequently criticised Laming's post, with Emerson calling it "disgraceful and inflammatory", while fellow Liberal and shadow Minister Greg Hunt stated that there was a need to be cautious about commenting on the clashes. Laming later posted another tweet which stated "To clarify: Working together to resolve these riots the priority. Training and a chance for jobs are key". The acting opposition leader Warren Truss told reporters that Laming "has got to take responsibility for his own actions. He's done that by correcting the tweet".[44]

On Australia Day in 2014, at a barbecue in his electorate of Bowman, Laming sculled a beer while performing a handstand, attracting significant media attention.[45] The stunt was criticised as attention seeking, prompting then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott to comment that "it wouldn't be how I would choose to celebrate Australia Day",[46] while a witness at the barbecue stated that they were "a little bit surprised when he did it, but in the context of the party it was OK". Earlier that week, Laming voiced opposition to reduced licensing hours for drinking establishments, using Facebook to post: "Why should idiots remove my right to stay out late celebrating a special occasion?"[47]

In March 2015, Laming was suspended from Parliament for 24 hours by the Speaker Bronwyn Bishop for bringing a jar of blackfuel into the Parliament House chamber and pouring it out onto his hand, in protest at the pollution left by cruise ship liners. Bishop said "In his remarks the member himself acknowledged the dangerous nature of the material, setting aside the member's own offence in making use of props it is highly disorderly to bring dangerous and flammable substances into each of the chambers. I consider the member's actions to be totally disorderly, disrespectful of the House and the Federation Chamber and potentially dangerous to the health and safety of members and staff of the Federation Chamber".[48][49][50]

He gained notoriety in December 2016 when he spent eleven hours on the comment section of Facebook page 'The Simpsons Against the Liberals' after they published a meme making fun of his proposal to stop hiring PE teachers. This spawned a large amount of media attention, especially regarding his use of curious phrases such as 'mashing lefties'.[51][52]

On 23 January 2021, Laming made a Facebook post suggesting that Indigenous Australians were petrol sniffers. He has since claimed that posting "Deny it's Australia Day. That'll help petrol sniffing and school attendance in remote Australia" was not racist.[53]

In March 2021, it was reported that Laming had repeatedly made abusive posts on Facebook targeting two women, with one of the women stating that he had been doing so for six years. Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Laming to apologise for this in parliament before the story was broadcast, which he did.[54] As part of his apology Laming stated that the women are "highly regarded individuals within our Redland community",[55] though in a subsequent exchange he reportedly said that "In this climate – I willingly apologise – I didn't even know what for at 4pm when I did it."[56][57] On 27 March, after a third woman accused him of misconduct, Laming issued a statement saying, "I will step down from all Parliamentary roles effective immediately and complete both the counselling courses I committed to; as well as additional clinical counselling."[58][59] The following day, Laming announced that he would not stand for re-election.[60] However, he did not withdraw his nomination for preselection after his announcement.[61] On 12 April 2021, he was disendorsed by the LNP, making him eligible for a taxpayer-funded 'resettlement payment' of six months' salary, amounting to $105,600.[62][63][64]

On 6 April 2021, Guardian Australia reported that Laming had set up and operated around 35 Facebook pages, supposedly for community groups and suburbs in his electorate, which he allegedly used to promote political material and attack political opponents, seemingly in contravention of Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) rules requiring political authorisation for information intended to influence how electors vote.[65] On 7 April, the AEC confirmed it was investigating the Facebook pages regarding their lack of authorisation disclosure.[66]

In March 2022, the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, which audits the travel and expenses of Members of Parliament to ensure they meet parliamentary standards, ordered Laming to repay over $10,000 for travel expenses he claimed in 2019. Laming refused to pay back the money and claimed that the relevant emails proving the purpose of his travel were 'lost'.[67]

Post-parliament

[edit]

In January 2024, Laming announced he would run for mayor of Redland at the local government elections.[68] On 25 January, he confirmed he had dropped his LNP membership, saying it had "no place" at a local level".[69] He received 25,966 primary votes with the successful candidate, Jos Mitchell, receiving 52,599 primary votes.[70]

Publications

[edit]
  • Laming, A.C., Currie B., Mathews J.D., "Azithromycin and trachoma; the first three months", The Northern Territory Communicable Diseases Bulletin, NT Department of Health and Community Services, 1995.
  • Laming, A.C., et al. "Trachoma six months after the first azithromycin program in Australia", The Northern Territory Communicable Diseases Bulletin, NT Department of Health and Community Services, 1995; 2:1–3
  • Laming, A.C., "Azithromycin Trachoma Evaluation Group", Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association, 1995, Number 20.
  • Laming, A.C., "Afghanistan tragedy: war, public health and human suffering", Australian Family Physician, 1995, 24: 2191–5.
  • Laming, A.C., Martin F.J., "Right problem, wrong solution; Medical provider number restriction", ANZ Journal of Ophthalmology, 1997, 25: 5–6.
  • Laming, A.C., Leach A.J., et al., "A prospective study of azithromycin treatment of trachoma on carriage and resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae", Clinical Infectious Diseases, 1997, 24: 356–62.
  • Laming, A.C., Hallsworth PG, "Chlamydial detection in trachoma". Medical Journal of Australia, 13 February 1999.
  • Laming, A.C. (founding editor), Livesey F., Lyman L., Kennedy School Review, Harvard University, 2000, LCCN 00-190974.
  • Laming, A.C., et al. "A targeted single-dose azithromycin strategy for trachoma", Medical Journal of Australia, April 2000.
  • Laming, A.C., (co-author) Let's Go Turkey, St Martin's Press, 2001.

References

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Andrew Laming

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from Grokipedia

Andrew Charles Laming (born 30 September 1966) is an Australian ophthalmologist and former politician who represented the Division of Bowman in the as a member of the Liberal Party from 2004 to 2022.
Prior to entering parliament, Laming trained as a medical doctor, earning an MBBS from the , and specialized in , obtaining fellowship from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists; he also pursued postgraduate studies in at .
Elected in 2004, Laming was re-elected five times and contributed to policy areas including health services and regional development, serving in shadow parliamentary secretary roles during opposition periods.
His parliamentary career concluded amid 2021 allegations of inappropriate comments toward women, which prompted an internal Liberal Party review finding his conduct fell short of expected standards, mandatory cultural sensitivity training, withdrawal of party endorsement for re-election, and ultimate defeat in the 2022 federal election. No criminal charges arose from police investigations into related claims, such as an alleged unauthorized photograph.

Early life and education

Family background and upbringing

Andrew Laming was born on 30 September 1966 in , . He is the son of Bruce Laming (1938–2017), a Liberal Party member who represented the Queensland electorate of Mooloolah from 1992 to 2001 and served as Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Laming spent his early childhood years in , reflecting his family's international relocations, before returning to to complete his schooling in . This peripatetic upbringing occurred amid his father's career in business and eventual entry into state politics, though specific details on Bruce Laming's professional activities in Papua New Guinea remain undocumented in public records. No verified information exists on Laming's mother or siblings in available biographical sources.

Academic and early professional training

Laming obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the between 1984 and 1990. Following graduation, he commenced professional training as a medical practitioner in 1990, acquiring specialized qualifications including the Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRCOG) and Fellowship of the Royal Australian and College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO), denoting completion of advanced training in obstetrics/gynaecology and , respectively. He later pursued postgraduate academic studies, earning a (MPhil) in from the , a (MPA) from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Policy and Public Policy (MPol&PubPol) from . Additionally, he completed a Certificate IV in Fitness from TAFE .

Pre-political career

Medical practice and public health roles

Laming earned a and (MBBS) from the and a (DRCOG) from the . He specialized in , attaining fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO) in 1996, and served as a senior ophthalmology registrar at Sydney Eye Hospital and . In 1999, while completing his ophthalmology training, he established and acted as of the Friends In Deed Organisation (FIDO), a nonprofit connecting volunteers with community organizations. Laming maintained a clinical practice as an ophthalmic surgeon, focusing on eye health services, including efforts to establish a local facility in the Redlands region prior to his parliamentary career. In 2000, he consulted for the World Bank on health-related projects, drawing on his medical expertise. His work extended to initiatives, particularly in Indigenous eye health, informed by research on and treatment during his Master of Philosophy (MPhil) studies at the . In 2002, Laming served as a medical policy advisor to federal Health Minister Kay Patterson, contributing to development under the . This role bridged his clinical background with advisory work on matters, including regional and Indigenous health services, before he transitioned to in 2004.

International and advisory positions

Prior to entering Australian politics, Andrew Laming held several international roles focused on health advisory and humanitarian efforts. In 2000, he worked as a for the , specializing in , nutrition, and population sectors. This position involved advisory work on policy and development projects. In 2001, Laming served as a health planning specialist with the East Timor Transitional Authority, assisting in the reconstruction and planning of the nascent nation's amid post-independence challenges. His responsibilities included advising on infrastructure and service delivery to rebuild public health capabilities following the 1999 referendum violence. Laming also engaged in humanitarian fieldwork abroad, including landmine clearance operations in northern as a around 1992, supporting efforts in conflict-affected areas. These activities aligned with international aid initiatives, such as those conducted with organizations like the , emphasizing practical advisory and operational support in high-risk environments. Additional volunteer medical programs took him to locations including and the , where he contributed to eye health and community aid projects.

Parliamentary service

Election to parliament and initial terms

Andrew Laming was elected to the as the Liberal Party member for the Division of Bowman in at the 2004 federal election. He succeeded the previous Liberal incumbent, securing the seat in a division covering the Redlands area east of . During his first term from 2004 to 2007, Laming served on the Standing Committee on Communications, and the Arts. In 2005, he was appointed as the government's representative on the Australian National Commission for . Laming was re-elected for a second term at the 2007 federal election, continuing his representation of Bowman. In these initial terms, he focused on issues aligned with his medical background, including policy, though specific legislative contributions emerged more prominently in later years.

Key committee roles and legislative contributions

Laming held several significant positions on parliamentary committees throughout his tenure, contributing to inquiries and reports that influenced policy in areas such as health, , , and public accounts. He served as Chair of the House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and from 19 October 2016 until 11 April 2022, overseeing examinations of vocational training, workforce participation, and skills development legislation. Earlier, he chaired the House Standing Committee on and from 13 October 2015 to 9 May 2016, focusing on higher education funding and reforms. These roles positioned him to shape recommendations on bills related to apprenticeships and tertiary sector accountability, though he did not sponsor private members' bills during this period. In health and indigenous affairs, Laming was a member of the House Standing Committee on Health from 4 December 2013 to 9 May 2016 and the House Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, where he acted as Deputy Chair from 11 March 2008 to 19 July 2010. He also participated in the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport from 14 September 2016 to 11 April 2019, contributing to reviews of aged care quality and sports integrity frameworks that informed subsequent legislative amendments. As Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health Services and Indigenous Health from 14 September 2010 to 18 September 2013, Laming critiqued government health reforms and advocated for rural service delivery models, influencing opposition positions on bills like the National Health Reform Act 2011. Laming's joint committee service included chairing the Joint Select Committee on the Fund Establishment from 31 October 2014 to 25 June 2015, which examined infrastructure funding mechanisms, and membership on the Joint Statutory Committee on Public Accounts and Audit from 1 December 2004 to 17 October 2007 and again from 14 September 2016 to 1 July 2019, auditing federal expenditures with implications for budgetary legislation. He also served on the Joint Standing Committee on from 14 February 2007 to 17 October 2007 and the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and from 6 February 2018 to 1 July 2019, reviewing treaty implementations and defence procurement bills. Later terms saw involvement in the House Standing Committees on and Legal Affairs and from 4 July 2019 to 11 April 2022, addressing welfare reforms and economic modeling reports. These engagements emphasized evidence-based scrutiny over ideological priorities, though his chairmanship of the employment committee persisted amid internal debates in 2021.

Policy advocacy and voting record

Laming maintained a high degree of alignment with the Liberal Party's positions throughout his parliamentary tenure, recording no rebel votes against the party majority from 2006 onward. His attendance in divisions ranged from 77% to 98%, reflecting consistent participation in legislative proceedings. On social issues, Laming voted consistently against equality in relevant divisions, including opposition to bills enabling such unions prior to their legalization in 2017. He also opposed measures advancing rights, such as amendments to anti-discrimination laws or access to related services. In welfare policy, he supported initiatives to place payments onto cashless debit cards on an ongoing basis, arguing this reduced discretionary spending on non-essentials.
Policy AreaVoting StanceKey Details
Citizenship RequirementsConsistently for increasing eligibilitySupported stricter tests and residency periods for naturalization, emphasizing integration and language proficiency in divisions from 2014–2021.
Renewable Energy InvestmentAlmost always against increasesOpposed expanded subsidies or mandates for renewables, favoring market-driven energy sources in votes on carbon pricing and emissions targets (2009–2019).
Unconventional Gas MiningConsistently forBacked regulatory approvals for coal seam gas and shale extraction, voting against moratoriums in Queensland-focused bills (2011–2014).
Welfare AvailabilityFor decreasing overallVoted for measures tightening access, including income tests and compliance requirements, in budget-related divisions (2013–2022).
In policy advocacy, Laming expressed skepticism toward aggressive climate mitigation efforts centered on Australia, noting in 2015 that the country's emissions contributions were minimal relative to global totals and critiquing disproportionate domestic burdens. Despite acknowledging anthropogenic influences, he rebuked Liberal colleagues in 2020 for outright denial of , advocating instead for pragmatic over alarmist policies. On public health, as a former medical practitioner, he challenged broad vaccine mandates in 2021, urging the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to consider nuanced exemptions amid state-level impositions during the . Regarding Indigenous affairs, Laming critiqued symbolic targets in 2021 strategies, arguing they ignored structural barriers like non-competitive wage distortions under enterprise bargaining exemptions, drawing from his prior research in Aboriginal health. He also advocated for initiatives in the Palestinian territories in 2021 parliamentary speeches, supporting bilateral aid to foster self-sufficiency.

Controversies and public scrutiny

Social media interactions and allegations

In March 2021, Andrew Laming faced public allegations of engaging in persistent online harassment through Facebook comments directed at two women in his electorate: Queensland state Labor MP Kim Richards and a local constituent who had criticized his positions on issues such as vaccination and aged care funding. Richards, who first clashed with Laming around 2010 over his comments on vaccine safety, described his subsequent interactions as a "long-running" pattern of bullying that involved personal attacks rather than substantive policy rebuttals, claiming it exacerbated her mental health issues to the point of suicidal ideation; she stated that one specific instance involved Laming posting a photo of her online accompanied by an apparent slur. The constituent similarly reported years of targeted comments that felt intimidatory and disproportionate to her public critiques. Laming responded on March 25, 2021, with an unreserved public apology, acknowledging that his posts toward the two women had been "unkind" and inappropriate, and expressing regret for any distress caused without qualifying the content of the remarks. labeled the conduct "disgraceful" and directed Laming to complete mandatory empathy and respect training, after which Laming temporarily stepped back from parliamentary duties. Additional claims emerged of Laming operating over 30 pseudonymous pages and profiles disguised as community groups, which were used to promote Liberal National Party interests and counter critics, though he maintained these were for legitimate advocacy rather than personal . The allegations prompted broader scrutiny, including reports from four other women describing uncomfortable online or in-person interactions with Laming, some involving follow-ups to disagreements. Laming contested the characterizations in media coverage, successfully pursuing actions: ABC journalist agreed in August 2021 to pay undisclosed damages and publish a correction for four tweets on March 28, 2021, that implied he had engaged in unchecked of women online. Separately, issued a public apology in September 2022 and settled for reporting on March 27, 2021, that linked him to inappropriate photography, acknowledging the claims' nature. These outcomes highlighted limitations in the evidential basis of some amplified allegations from outlets with incentives to emphasize misconduct amid contemporaneous parliamentary scandals.

Political party responses and internal reviews

In March 2021, following public allegations of Laming's interactions with female constituents, directed Laming, a Liberal Party , to issue a parliamentary apology for conduct described by Morrison as "disgraceful." Laming complied by apologizing in the on March 27, 2021, while simultaneously announcing his immediate withdrawal from all parliamentary duties to undergo counseling. This response aligned with broader efforts to address internal complaints amid heightened scrutiny of workplace culture, though Morrison later clarified he lacked direct authority over Laming's preselection, as it fell under the Queensland Liberal National Party (LNP). The LNP escalated its handling on April 12, 2021, when its Application Review Committee formally blocked Laming's for the Division of Bowman in the upcoming federal election, effectively disendorsing him after he reversed an earlier pledge not to recontest. This decision followed Laming's failure to withdraw his nomination formally, prompting the committee's intervention to prevent his candidacy despite his long tenure since 2004. Internal party dynamics revealed prior unease; a former LNP branch secretary in Bowman's area had raised concerns about Laming's "temper tantrums" and sought his replacement before her own suspension from the party in 2020. Additionally, pre-2019 election discussions at LNP reportedly viewed Laming as a liability, with branch leaders advocating for his removal, though he retained endorsement at that time. No formal internal investigation or review by the LNP was publicly detailed beyond the preselection process, but the disendorsement rendered Laming eligible for a taxpayer-funded resettlement allowance equivalent to six months' upon leaving . Laming contested the party's actions, later alleging in 2023 that Morrison had scapegoated him to mitigate vulnerabilities among female voters, a claim unaddressed by official LNP statements. The LNP's measures contrasted with Laming's October 2021 withdrawal of his parliamentary apology, signaling ongoing discord but no reversal of the disendorsement.

Broader implications for political discourse

The Laming controversies exemplified the heightened vulnerability of politicians to retrospective investigations of activity, fostering a climate where past online exchanges could precipitate professional repercussions without formal of misconduct. In March 2021, allegations from female constituents regarding Laming's combative comments and usage prompted his temporary withdrawal from duties for training, despite no criminal findings or independent verification of claims. This episode underscored how amplified complaints, often routed through partisan channels, can compel among public figures wary of in an era of perpetual digital archiving. The Liberal National Party's decision to deny Laming preselection for the Bowman electorate on April 12, 2021, illustrated the primacy of electoral in party , prioritizing collective branding over individual representational autonomy. Such internal sanctions, absent transparent evidentiary standards, arguably incentivize conformity to prevailing sensitivities, potentially marginalizing heterodox perspectives on social issues like participation or . Conservative commentators have contended that this dynamic disproportionately affects right-leaning voices challenging progressive orthodoxies, contributing to a narrowing of acceptable within major parties. Subsequent regulatory actions, including fines imposed in 2023 for undeclared political advocacy on —later partially overturned by the on August 13, 2025—highlighted escalating legal constraints on politicians' digital expression, mandating disclosures that blur lines between personal and official communication. These developments have prompted broader caution in Australian political circles, with reports indicating increased reliance on anonymous or third-party accounts to evade scrutiny, thereby undermining transparency while evading outrage cycles. Overall, the affair signals a causal shift toward institutionalized of speech, where empirical contestation yields to perceptual management, potentially eroding the robustness of parliamentary debate.

Electoral authorization disputes

In the lead-up to the , the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) alleged that Andrew Laming published electoral matter on without complying with statutory authorization requirements under sections 321B and 321C of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth). These provisions mandate that electoral communications disclose the name and address of the person or entity authorizing the material, to promote transparency about its origin. Specifically, Laming was accused of posting content on pages such as "Redland : Let's fight for fair funding," which criticized health funding policies and advocated for (LNP) positions, without displaying the required authorizing details. The AEC initiated civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court in December 2021, claiming five separate breaches across three posts made between March and May 2019. The Federal Court at first instance, in August 2023, found Laming liable for three breaches, imposing a total of $20,000, comprising $4,548 per contravention plus costs, reflecting the primary judge's assessment that the posts qualified as electoral matter intended to influence voting preferences. Laming did not dispute the factual publication but contested the classification of the content as electoral matter and the applicability of the Commonwealth Electoral (Authorisation of Voter Communication) Determination 2018. On appeal, the Full Federal Court in upheld the breaches but varied the penalty calculation, doubling the fine by treating each post's dissemination to multiple recipients as separate contraventions under section 321D(5), which addresses the timing and scope of record-keeping obligations for notifying entities. This approach emphasized the Act's purpose of deterring non-disclosure in digital communications that could cumulatively reach wide audiences. Laming appealed to the , arguing that section 321D(5) did not multiply penalties based on audience size or individual communications but rather tied obligations to the initial publication event. In Laming v Australian Electoral Commissioner HCA 31, decided on 13 August 2025, a majority (Gageler CJ, Gleeson and Jagot JJ) allowed the appeal in part, reinstating the primary judge's penalty framework by ruling that breaches are assessed per item of electoral matter rather than per recipient, thereby overturning the Full Court's escalation while affirming the underlying contraventions. The decision clarified interpretive ambiguities in Part XXA of the Act, particularly regarding digital platforms' challenges in applying pre-social media era rules, but upheld the AEC's enforcement to ensure voter awareness of political advocacy sources. Separate AEC scrutiny in April 2021 examined over 30 Laming-linked pages for similar non-disclosure in promoting LNP interests, though these did not result in additional formal penalties beyond the 2019 case.

Defamation claims against media outlets

In August 2021, Andrew Laming initiated defamation proceedings in the against Co. over a March 2021 A Current Affair broadcast that alleged he had photographed the buttocks of a female café worker without her consent in 2019, imputing that he was a "lecherous pervert" engaging in predatory behavior. The segment, part of broader coverage of Laming's controversies, led Nine to initially defend the publication but later withdraw all defenses in late August 2021 after receiving additional information. The case settled confidentially on , 2022, with Nine issuing a public apology, acknowledging the report was false and expressing regret for the harm caused to Laming's reputation. Nine agreed to pay undisclosed damages and costs to Laming, who had argued the broadcast exacerbated public scrutiny amid his preselection challenges. In November 2022, the Walkley Foundation revoked a 2021 award given to the A Current Affair journalists for their investigation into Laming, citing the settlement and apology as grounds for review. Separately, in 2021, Laming pursued a claim against ABC journalist over tweets she posted in April 2020 alleging he had photographed a woman inappropriately at a café, which he contended falsely portrayed him as a sexual harasser. The matter resolved with Milligan personally paying Laming over $80,000 in damages and costs, while the ABC covered her legal expenses, totaling nearly $200,000 for the public broadcaster. This settlement highlighted tensions between journalistic commentary on politicians' online conduct and thresholds under Australian law.

Post-parliamentary activities

Efforts to re-enter politics

Following his defeat in the 2022 federal election for the seat of Bowman, where Liberal National Party (LNP) incumbent Henry Pike succeeded him, Laming sought to re-establish influence within the LNP by contesting control of a party branch in Brisbane's bayside region in April 2023. He lost the internal vote, marking an early setback in efforts to position himself for a potential federal return. In March 2024, Laming announced his candidacy for mayor of , aiming to leverage local recognition in the bayside electorate overlapping his former federal seat. The campaign drew scrutiny over his past controversies, including allegations, and devolved into personal attacks among candidates, but Laming persisted as an independent contender against LNP's Jos Mitchell and others. He was unsuccessful in the March 2024 . Subsequently, in July 2025, the Civil and Administrative Tribunal fined Laming $5,000 for electoral breaches during the mayoral bid, including failures to properly authorize campaign materials. Laming stated at the time that he was focusing on work in remote areas and was not then considering further political re-entry. No subsequent bids for federal or state office have been reported as of October 2025.

Professional and public engagements since 2022

Following his defeat in the 2022 federal election, Laming returned to medical practice as an ophthalmologist, leveraging his prior qualifications as a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists since 1996. He has described this role in public statements, noting it allows him to address local issues in the Redlands region from a professional vantage. Concurrently, Laming has engaged in freelance work as a political commentator, a position he listed as commencing in April 2022 from Ormiston, . This activity builds on his parliamentary experience, focusing on media and public discourse contributions without affiliation to a specific firm or organization. No formal business ventures or consulting firms under his name have been publicly registered or detailed beyond these individual pursuits as of 2025.

Publications and commentary

Authored works

Laming authored the book Political Covid: How Australia's Leadership Played the , published on 1 2023 by Connor . The 190-page volume draws on his parliamentary experience to critique the Australian federal government's response, including economic stimulus measures that contributed to , policies, and leadership decisions amid geopolitical tensions. Laming argues that these actions risk long-term political, medical, and , with future generations questioning the rationale behind expansive fiscal interventions. The book was launched in , with commentary from figures like Vikki Campion highlighting its insider perspective on policy failures.

Opinion pieces and public statements

In September 2022, Laming published an in The Spectator Australia titled "How the media destroyed my life," in which he contended that intensive media coverage of his 2021 social media controversies generated an estimated $210 million in advertising revenue for outlets while reaching 450 million people globally, portraying him as a amid partisan gender debates within the Liberal Party. He argued that reports misrepresented innocuous interactions, such as questioning a local councilor's decisions, as , despite police investigations finding no basis for complaints, and claimed eventual media retractions validated his position after legal settlements, including one with Nine Media. Laming has also contributed commentary on , authoring articles for the Agricultural Business (NZAB) blog, including a 2023 piece contrasting Denmark's model—featuring public-private funds like Vaekstfonden (managing $7 billion in assets), R&D tax incentives, and export-focused agritech—with New Zealand's lower GDP (NZD$80,000 versus Denmark's NZD$120,000) and over-reliance on for 80% of exports. He advocated rewiring capital allocation toward , reducing regulatory barriers, and prioritizing sectors like agritech (citing New Zealand firm Halter's $1 billion valuation) to close gaps, where workers earn USD$55 per hour compared to Denmark's USD$105. Among public statements, Laming withdrew a March 2021 apology to two women over his online comments in October 2021, asserting in federal parliament that the allegations were "fabricated" and politically motivated, with no evidence of harm beyond initial misinterpretations of his inquiries into public spending. In May 2021, he delivered a parliamentary defense rejecting labels of "stalker" or "taxpayer-funded troll," emphasizing his record of constituent engagement and disputing media amplifications of decade-old posts as evidence of systemic misconduct. Earlier, during the , Laming drafted an opinion piece sent to Health Minister in 2021 advocating relaxation of restrictions, reflecting his skepticism toward prolonged lockdowns, though it remained unpublished. Laming consistently opposed harm-reduction measures for illicit drugs, publicly criticizing pill-testing at music festivals as ineffective and arguing in parliamentary debates that it encouraged risky behavior without addressing underlying demand, prioritizing and instead. These positions, drawn from his tenure as chair of the parliamentary committee on , underscored his emphasis on evidence-based deterrence over perceived normalization of drug use.

References

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