Former Bowman MP Andrew Laming has welcomed an unreserved apology from Nine after he sued the broadcaster for defamation over a television report aired last year.
Nine apologised to Dr Laming in Federal Court on Wednesday morning over the broadcast which claimed Dr Laming had taken a "lewd photo" of a female worker.
"9News has now seen material which indicates that the photograph Dr Laming took was not lewd in nature," Nine's apology stated.
"9News unreservedly withdraws those allegations about Dr Laming and apologises to him and his family for the hurt and harm caused by the report."
Dr Laming told ABC Radio Brisbane Nine's settlement was the last in a string of high-profile apologies from media commentators and politicians following the March 27 television broadcast.
He did not comment on any financial settlement from the broadcaster, but said he welcomed the settlement which avoided a three-week trial in October.
"I can only confirm an apology has been received and posted by Nine, and a number of stories will be removed including video links to stories from that period," he said.
"And that's really important to me, because while you'll never erase or excise the incredibly damaging personal nature of these accusations, you can only really paper them over with a decision today and move on."
Dr Laming said he believed Australia's defamation laws had worked appropriately and he believed the media "do a good job".
Nine's story from March 27 last year won several awards at the Queensland media awards, the Clarions.
The MEAA, which runs the Clarions, said it was considering the matter.
The report also won a Walkley journalism award, and the Walkley Foundation is also considering the matter.
Neither body is making any further comment at this time.
Laming 'bitterly disappointed' by Prime Minister's lack of 'due process'
Nine's report aired on March 27, two days after allegations of online trolling were levelled at Dr Laming by two Redland constituents over interactions with him online.
Then Prime Minister Scott Morrison ordered Dr Laming to apologise in parliament over the alleged trolling.
Dr Laming apologised in parliament on March 25 for the distress the women felt, but later withdrew his apology.
On Wednesday, Dr Laming told ABC Radio Brisbane he believed at the time an apology was completely reasonable, and that as part of the LNP "team" he was expected to do so.
"I really had no choice but to do that, I thought that was important, but in retrospect it's turned out to be a presumption of guilt for many people and has actually also aggravated the situation," he said.
On March 26 in a press conference, Mr Morrison labelled Dr Laming's alleged comments to the women "disgraceful".
The next day – before Nine's television report aired – Mr Morrison further said he was arranging for Dr Laming to "get appropriate assistance through an appropriate course to build his understanding and awareness about his actions".
Dr Laming said "hysteria" at the time had cost him his political career and caused immense distress to his wife and two daughters.
He said he felt "bitterly disappointed" by the lack of support given to him by Mr Morrison during that time, leaving him feeling "particularly exposed".
"Of course, I'm bitterly disappointed at two levels – [Scott Morrison] failed to give due process, failed to obtain details of these accusations, looked me in the eye and said that there wasn't a problem and within a day had done a press conference calling me disgraceful," he said.
Mr Morrison has been contacted for comment.
In May last year Mr Morrison said: "He's [Dr Laming] done many good things while he's here as part of the government and I expect him to keep working hard for his electorate all the way to the next election."
Dr Laming indicated he is hoping for a political comeback at a state level with the LNP.
"I'm sticking with the LNP because they've stuck with me," he said.
"The LNP is nothing like the relationship that I had with the former Prime Minister [Scott Morrison], that was really disappointing, but my party never left my side and always supported me."
