Liberal MP Andrew Laming is forced to apologise for trolling two women


‘I make the rules and you follow them’: Senior government MP is forced to apologise for trolling two women – with one claiming he hid in the bushes and took photos of her in a public park

  • Liberal MP Andrew Laming has been forced to apologise to two Brisbane women 
  • Both women had accused the federal politician of abusing them on social media
  • Dr Laming issued ‘public unreserved apology’ in parliament, expressing ‘regret’  

A senior government MP has been forced to apologise to two Brisbane women who accused him of trolling them on Facebook.

Andrew Laming conceded his social media commentary had caused significant distress to two highly respected members of his federal electorate.

The exchanges sparked accusations of slander, stealing and stalking, with one of them women claiming she was left feeling suicidal.

Mr Laming apologised to both women in writing and during a speech to parliament after being hauled in to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office.

‘I want to express my regret and deep apologies for the hurt and the distress that communication may have caused,’ Mr Laming said on Thursday.

Liberal MP Dr Andrew Laming (pictured) has been forced to apologise to two Brisbane women who accused him of online abuse

Liberal MP Dr Andrew Laming (pictured) has been forced to apologise to two Brisbane women who accused him of online abuse

‘I want to retract those comments and issue a public unreserved apology.’

The Queensland backbencher, who regularly attracts criticism for his behaviour and comments on social media, acknowledged he had lessons to learn about his use of words.

‘I have made a concerted effort to understand the impact of these responses upon others and demonstrate a clear change in the way I communicate,’ he said.

‘I want to say to any person who has received correspondence from me which fell short of what they expect from an MP that I intend to own that failure and apologise without hesitation.’ 

Mr Morrison had demanded Mr Laming stop using social media to troll the women.   

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said: ‘At the Prime Minister’s request, the Member for Bowman issued an unreserved public apology. 

‘His comments were not acceptable to both women and also to the Prime Minister. Every Australian has the right to feel safe online and Mr Laming has made a commitment to change his online communication practices.’ 

In one post, Mr Laming had told charity worker and single mother Alix Russo ‘Unfortunately for you, I make the rules and you follow them’.

Ms Russo said she was fed up with the abuse.   

‘I want to be alive, I don’t want to be attacked anymore,’ she told Nine News.  

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