The preselection of a man accused of "fat-shaming" to be Andrew Laming's replacement as the Liberal Nationals' candidate for the Brisbane seat of Bowman has led to the local chair's resignation.
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Henry Pike was the sole male contender in the five-way ballot on Sunday, and had the backing of federal Assistant Minister for Women Amanda Stoker.
His victory prompted the resignation of branch chair Craig Luxton in the hours after the vote.
An LNP spokesman told AAP that no date has been set for Bowman branch members to choose a new chair.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said Mr Pike's preselection had resulted in "a whole lot" of LNP members in Bowman resigning their positions.
"They don't think it's tenable for him to be the candidate," he told ABC radio on Monday.
Mr Pike recently told Sky News he was a changed person after messages in a group chat from more than a decade ago were published following a complaint by a female LNP member.
"(It) states quite clearly in the Bible that f****** a fat chick is a sin beyond redemption," he wrote in a message reported by Sky News on Thursday.
In a subsequent statement, Mr Pike told Sky: "Twelve years ago I was part of a private group chat that doesn't reflect the person I've grown to be. Like lots of men, I'm embarrassed about some of the things I said when I was younger and would never say today."
Earlier this year Dr Laming said he would not recontest his seat after taking a month of paid medical leave to seek empathy training ordered by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Morrison ordered his MP to apologise and characterised his online behaviour as "disgraceful".
Dr Laming had been accused of harassing two women from his electorate over several years but said he was a victim of character assassinations and his conduct towards women had been misrepresented.
He was also accused of taking an unsolicited photograph of a woman bending over at work while her underwear was exposed.
Dr Laming said the police found no evidence of a criminal offence and that the photo was innocent and meant to show a woman working hard on the job.
Australian Associated Press
