Andrew Laming
Andrew Charles Laming (born 30 September 1966) is an Australian ophthalmologist and former politician who represented the Division of Bowman in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Party from 2004 to 2022.[1]
Prior to entering parliament, Laming trained as a medical doctor, earning an MBBS from the University of Queensland, and specialized in ophthalmology, obtaining fellowship from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists; he also pursued postgraduate studies in public administration at Harvard Kennedy School.[1][2]
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.[1]
His parliamentary career concluded amid 2021 allegations of inappropriate social media 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.[3][4][5] No criminal charges arose from police investigations into related claims, such as an alleged unauthorized photograph.[6]
Early life and education
Family background and upbringing
Andrew Laming was born on 30 September 1966 in Hobart, Tasmania.[7] He is the son of Bruce Laming (1938–2017), a Liberal Party member who represented the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorate of Mooloolah from 1992 to 2001 and served as Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.[8] Laming spent his early childhood years in Papua New Guinea, reflecting his family's international relocations, before returning to Australia to complete his schooling in Brisbane.[7] 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 University of Queensland between 1984 and 1990.[1] [9] 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 New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO), denoting completion of advanced training in obstetrics/gynaecology and ophthalmology, respectively.[1] [10] [7] He later pursued postgraduate academic studies, earning a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Public Health from the University of Sydney, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Policy and Public Policy (MPol&PubPol) from Charles Darwin University.[1] [11] Additionally, he completed a Certificate IV in Fitness from TAFE Mooloolaba.[1]Pre-political career
Medical practice and public health roles
Laming earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Queensland and a Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRCOG) from the United Kingdom.[1] He specialized in ophthalmology, 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 Royal North Shore Hospital.[1] [2] In 1999, while completing his ophthalmology training, he established and acted as chief executive officer of the Friends In Deed Organisation (FIDO), a nonprofit connecting volunteers with community organizations.[1] [12] Laming maintained a clinical practice as an ophthalmic surgeon, focusing on eye health services, including efforts to establish a local eye surgery facility in the Redlands region prior to his parliamentary career.[13] In 2000, he consulted for the World Bank on health-related projects, drawing on his medical expertise.[1] His work extended to public health initiatives, particularly in Indigenous eye health, informed by research on trachoma and azithromycin treatment during his Master of Philosophy (MPhil) studies at the University of Sydney.[2] In 2002, Laming served as a medical policy advisor to federal Health Minister Kay Patterson, contributing to health policy development under the Howard government.[14] [13] This role bridged his clinical background with advisory work on public health matters, including regional and Indigenous health services, before he transitioned to politics in 2004.[14]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 consultant for the World Bank Group, specializing in health, nutrition, and population sectors.[15] This position involved advisory work on global health policy and development projects.[16] 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 health system amid post-independence challenges.[17] His responsibilities included advising on infrastructure and service delivery to rebuild public health capabilities following the 1999 referendum violence.[18] Laming also engaged in humanitarian fieldwork abroad, including landmine clearance operations in northern Afghanistan as a medic around 1992, supporting demining efforts in conflict-affected areas.[19] These activities aligned with international aid initiatives, such as those conducted with organizations like the HALO Trust, emphasizing practical advisory and operational support in high-risk environments.[14] Additional volunteer medical programs took him to locations including Madagascar and the West Bank, where he contributed to eye health and community aid projects.[13]Parliamentary service
Election to parliament and initial terms
Andrew Laming was elected to the House of Representatives as the Liberal Party member for the Division of Bowman in Queensland at the 2004 federal election.[1] He succeeded the previous Liberal incumbent, securing the seat in a division covering the Redlands area east of Brisbane.[20] During his first term from 2004 to 2007, Laming served on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.[1] In 2005, he was appointed as the government's representative on the Australian National Commission for UNESCO.[1] [14] Laming was re-elected for a second term at the 2007 federal election, continuing his representation of Bowman.[1] In these initial terms, he focused on issues aligned with his medical background, including public health policy, though specific legislative contributions emerged more prominently in later years.[14]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, education, employment, and public accounts. He served as Chair of the House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training from 19 October 2016 until 11 April 2022, overseeing examinations of vocational training, workforce participation, and skills development legislation.[21] Earlier, he chaired the House Standing Committee on Education and Employment from 13 October 2015 to 9 May 2016, focusing on higher education funding and industrial relations reforms.[21] 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.[21] 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.[21] 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.[21] Laming's joint committee service included chairing the Joint Select Committee on the Australia 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.[21] He also served on the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties from 14 February 2007 to 17 October 2007 and the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 6 February 2018 to 1 July 2019, reviewing treaty implementations and defence procurement bills.[21] Later terms saw involvement in the House Standing Committees on Social Policy and Legal Affairs and Economics from 4 July 2019 to 11 April 2022, addressing welfare reforms and economic modeling reports.[21] These engagements emphasized evidence-based scrutiny over ideological priorities, though his chairmanship of the employment committee persisted amid internal party debates in 2021.[22]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 February 2006 onward.[23] His attendance in divisions ranged from 77% to 98%, reflecting consistent participation in legislative proceedings.[23] On social issues, Laming voted consistently against same-sex marriage equality in relevant divisions, including opposition to bills enabling such unions prior to their legalization in 2017.[24] He also opposed measures advancing transgender rights, such as amendments to anti-discrimination laws or access to related services.[25] 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.[26]| Policy Area | Voting Stance | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship Requirements | Consistently for increasing eligibility | Supported stricter tests and residency periods for naturalization, emphasizing integration and language proficiency in divisions from 2014–2021.[27] |
| Renewable Energy Investment | Almost always against increases | Opposed expanded subsidies or mandates for renewables, favoring market-driven energy sources in votes on carbon pricing and emissions targets (2009–2019).[28] |
| Unconventional Gas Mining | Consistently for | Backed regulatory approvals for coal seam gas and shale extraction, voting against moratoriums in Queensland-focused bills (2011–2014).[29] |
| Welfare Availability | For decreasing overall | Voted for measures tightening access, including income tests and compliance requirements, in budget-related divisions (2013–2022).[30] |