Embattled federal MP Andrew Laming could be in line for a hefty payout after being formally abandoned by Queensland's Liberal National Party.
Dr Laming has been blocked from recontesting the Brisbane seat of Bowman for the LNP after he failed to officially withdraw his nomination for preselection following harassment allegations.
Just last month, the backbencher agreed to leave his long-held seat at the next federal election and apologised in parliament over claims he harassed two prominent constituents on social media.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had been under pressure to sack Dr Laming but instead ordered him to take leave and undergo empathy training and counselling to improve his "disgraceful" behaviour.
When Dr Laming later announced he would not contest the next poll, Mr Morrison said he'd done a "quite significant" thing in walking away from his political career.
But Dr Laming failed to formally withdraw his preselection nomination. That forced the LNP's Application Review Committee to formally block him on Monday night.
State LNP leader David Crisafulli has backed the committee's decision, noting Dr Laming's commitments about his political career.
Asked if it was a bad look for the prime minister to have been ignored, Mr Crisafulli said: "The prime minister has said to Dr Laming what he expects, and I would hope Dr Laming follows suit."
Earlier the LNP's state executive said it had accepted the ARC's recommendation that Dr Laming not proceed as a candidate. Nominations for Bowman have reopened.
Dr Laming, 54, is under investigation by the electoral commission over more than 30 Facebook pages operated without political authorisation disclosures.
And earlier this month, Queensland Police confirmed no action would be taken over a woman's complaint that he took an inappropriate photograph of her while she was bending over.
Dr Laming has said the photo was an innocent shot of a woman as she bent over to fill up a fridge at a landscaping supplies business in Brisbane in 2019.
The ARC's decision not to back Dr Laming as a candidate could see him benefit financially.
Under parliamentary rules, MPs who involuntarily retire after failing to win re-endorsement "for reasons other than misconduct" are eligible to receive a resettlement allowance.
In Dr Laming's case, that's worth $105,600, but it's unclear yet if he will be eligible.
Australian Associated Press
