Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan is expelled from Liberal National Party over allegations of 'disgusting behaviour' towards 18-year-old girl
- The Liberal National Party has expelled Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan
- The party's state executive made the decision in a meeting in Brisbane today
- 'We expect our elected representatives to meet the highest standards,' LNP said
- This comes after Mr Costigan was suspended over a harassment complaint
- The LNP received the complaint from the mother of an 18-year-old girl
Queensland's LNP has booted out embattled MP Jason Costigan, insisting it's the right thing to do even though it will now be harder to win the next state election.
The Liberal National Party dumped the Whitsunday MP on Friday in the wake of harassment allegations from an 18-year-old woman.
A second young woman, aged 20, later made a similar complaint of predatory behaviour relating to text messages she says she received from him last year.
However, MP Costigan has announced that he will not resign despite being expelled from the LNP, tweeting: 'I will NOT be resigning! #qldpol #auspol #costo2020'
Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan (pictured) has been expelled from the Liberal National Party over a harassment allegation towards an 18-year-old woman
However, MP Costigan has announced that he will not resign despite being expelled from the LNP, tweeting: 'I will NOT be resigning! #qldpol #auspol #costo2020'
Details of the claims have not been publicly released and party leader Deb Frecklington says they will remain confidential.
She called on the MP to resign from parliament.
'He has disgraced the office and he should go now,' she told reporters.
'I don't care about the political cost, this is about protecting young women and victims against predators.'
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The LNP received the second complaint as Mr Costigan was strenuously denying on Thursday any wrongdoing relating to the first complaint.
He displayed a selfie he had taken with the girl to the media at that press conference, and called her claims 'crap'.
According to the Brisbane Times the 18-year-old's mother sent an email to the LNP after Mr Costigan took topless selfies with the teenager, who was gripping a duress alarm in her handbag.
The mother called Mr Costigan's behaviour 'extraordinary'.
The Whitsunday MP was once branded a 'sleaze' for posing with bikini-clad tourists (pictured)
Queensland's Deputy Premier Jackie Trad commented on Mr Costigan's photos, saying, 'What a sleazebag,' accompanied by a vomiting emoji
'It was predatory, sexual, unhinged and intimidating,' she wrote in the email.
Mr Costigan, 47, told The Courier Mail he strongly denied the allegation and would be pursuing legal action.
'I am going to contest the allegations. This is a stitch-up of the highest order,' he said.
The party's disputes committee found the MP's conduct breached its constitution and recommended his expulsion, which the executive acted upon on Friday.
Acting LNP president David Hutchinson said Mr Costigan was expelled and no longer a member of the party.
'The LNP fully recognises the significance of this action, and understands that removing a sitting MP will make the challenge of winning the next state election more difficult,' he said.
Mr Hutchinson commended Ms Frecklington for her strong leadership on the matter.
Ms Frecklington told reporters on Thursday that, as the mother of three girls, the claims had made her feel sick and her skin crawl.
The complaint has been referred to police in another state.
'It's 2018. He's an elected official. He's being paid by the taxpayer. And yesterday he was out celebrating world bikini day by creeping on young, foreign tourists. Ugh,' Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad (pictured) said
Comment was being sought from Mr Costigan.
Mr Costigan first came under fire after posing with two bikini-clad tourists last year and posting the photos and video to Facebook.
Queensland's Deputy Premier Jackie Trad commented on Mr Costigan's photos, lashing out at his actions.
'Did you get a good look?' she wrote.
'You wouldn't know it, but this lad is Jason Costigan – the LNP Member for Whitsunday.
'It's 2018. He's an elected official. He's being paid by the taxpayer.
'And yesterday he was out celebrating world bikini day by creeping on young, foreign tourists. Ugh.'
She followed up her critique with the line: 'What a sleazebag', accompanied by a vomiting emoji.
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