Liberal Andrew Laming denies being a troll

An unrepentant Andrew Laming has sensationally claimed he is the victim of character assassinations and his conduct towards women has been misrepresented.

The embattled Liberal backbencher has returned to federal parliament after taking a month of paid leave to seek counselling and empathy training.

Dr Laming continues to claim the stalking and harassment accusations levelled against him are not true.

“Legitimate political questions I have asked online of opposition state MPs has been characterised as stalking,” he told parliament on Tuesday.

“A photograph taken of my own wife playing with our family has been misrepresented as stalking and hiding in the bushes in a park where there are no bushes.”

The Queensland politician also defended taking a photograph of a woman without her consent while she was bent over with her underwear exposed.

“An utterly, utterly entirely appropriate and innocent workplace photograph with no offence found whatsoever after police investigation has been characterised as lewd,” Dr Laming said.

He also continues to deny harassing two female constituents online for several years, despite issuing a public apology for his behaviour in late March.

“To misrepresent the work I have done on Facebook responding to the comments of others has been characterised as harassment,” the Bowman MP said.

“To refer to me and misrepresent me as a taxpayer-funded troll for my online work – with all posts remaining online, visible and public – is a misrepresentation and reflection on my character.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison remains under pressure to expel Dr Laming from the coalition party room, but has so far resisted the widespread calls because it would strip his government of its majority in the lower house.

Dr Laming is set to retire from politics at the next election.