‘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 federal 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 Bowman electorate.
The exchanges sparked accusations of slander, stealing and stalking, with one of the 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
‘I want to retract those comments and issue a public unreserved apology.’
The Liberal National Party 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.
‘At the Prime Minister’s request, the Member for Bowman issued an unreserved public apology,’ a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said.
‘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 Facebook post, Mr Laming accused charity worker and single mother Alix Russo of misappropriating funds.
‘You can’t be trusted with other people’s’ (sic) money. That’s why your organisation is drying up,’ Mr Laming claimed on Facebook.
In another post, Mr Laming wrote: ‘Thankfully, they all left you and set up an alternative charity. Unfortunately for you, I make the rules and you follow them.’
Ms Russo said she was outraged at the comments directed towards her that left her felling suicidal.
‘I want to be alive, I don’t want to be attacked anymore,’ she told Nine News.
‘This man has to stop. He cannot continue abusing his community like this.’
Another woman, Sheena Hewlett, said she was forced to contact police after claiming Mr Laming hid in the bushes and took photos of her in a public park, which were later posted to Facebook.
Ms Hewlett, a teacher, also claimed Mr Laming rang the school she is employed, demanding to know her work timetable.
‘I certainly fear for my family,’ Ms Hewlett said.
Both women had publicly pleaded with Mr Morrison to intervene to stop the online abuse.
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