Andrew Laming

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Andrew Laming (born 30 September 1966), Australian politician, was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Division of Bowman, Queensland for the Liberal Party of Australia at the 2004 federal election. He was an ophthalmic surgeon and management consultant before entering politics.

Laming qualified in medicine at University of Queensland and is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. He also has a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University and a Diploma in obstetrics and gynaecology from London University, and is completing a Masters degree in Public Health at Sydney University. He has worked in public health, economics, ophthalmology, international systems and finance, including a period with the World Bank in Washington DC and as a health planning specialist in the East Timor Transitional Authority.

On 2 March 2007 the electorate office of Andrew Laming was raided by the Australian Federal Police. The electorate offices of Liberal MPs Gary Hardgrave and Ross Vasta and a printing firm used by the Liberal Party of Australia were also raided.[1]

The wide-ranging investigation, believed to have been running for at least six months, centers on allegations of abuse of electoral allowances.[2] Andrew Laming is being investigated for fraudulently claiming $67,000 worth of taxpayer funds for printing campaign material.[3] It has been speculated in the Queensland Parliament that the funds were diverted to the Liberal's 2006 state election campaign.[4] Liberal Party sources have been reported as saying that Mr Laming was tipped off an hour before his office was raided.[5]

Andrew Laming is also being investigated by the Australian Federal Police for claiming funds for an electorate staff position which was not filled.[6]

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