Queensland MP Andrew Laming has announced he was stepping aside to “complete both the counselling courses I committed to as well as additional clinical counselling".
In a statement made on Saturday evening to News Corp, he said "I will have more to say on my future as soon as that process is completed".
Earlier Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed Andrew Laming had been ordered into empathy training after downplaying his apology for bullying two Brisbane constituents.
Mr Laming's "I will have more to say on my future" may force the Coalition into minority government as it holds a slender one-seat majority in the House of Representatives (75 seats out of 151). Parliament is not due to sit until the second week of May when the federal budget will be handed down.
Mr Laming's move to the cross bench would mean Scott Morrison’s government would be in a minority.
The by-election, if if Mr Laming quit, would put Mr Morrison’s government in a very difficult position to win the seat back due to the hugely damaging past couple of months.
