LNP candidate ran porn website: report

Updated

Liberal National Party (LNP) leader Campbell Newman says he will investigate the latest candidate sex allegations to rock the party's election campaign.

The LNP is facing another pre-selection embarrassment after reports its candidate for the seat of Albert, Mark Boothman, ran a pornography website several years ago.

The Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper is reporting Mr Boothman helped design a now defunct pornographic website that ran online until 2008, before he was pre-selected.

Mr Boothman is still listed as the site administrator and has not returned the ABC's calls.

He is quoted in the newspaper report as saying he helped a friend set it up.

The LNP has already had to sack two candidates for the nearby Gold Coast seat of Broadwater - one over a drink-driving charge and the other for attending a swingers party.

Mr Boothman is standing in the seat of Albert for the LNP against Labor's sitting member Margaret Keech.

Ms Keech holds the seat with a 6.5 per cent margin.

Mr Newman was quizzed on the matter at an International Women's Day function this morning.

However, he would not say whether Mr Boothman would be disendorsed if the alleged conduct breaches the party's standards, if the claims are true.

Mr Newman says the issue is being investigated.

"We have said we will meet and exceed community standards on these matters and every time something's come up, we've always investigated and made a firm decision," he said.

"All I can say is that we only heard about these allegations last night and we're looking into them today.

"All we know is that some allegations have been made through the Gold Coast media and we're investigating them this morning.

"I simply say to you we will be looking into it very thoroughly and then perhaps I can talk about it then some more."

If Mr Boothman is sacked or stands aside, the LNP will not be able to field another candidate in the northern Gold Coast seat because nominations for the March election have closed.

The ABC has also tried to contact LNP president Bruce McIver for comment.

Ms Keech says the revelations are very concerning.

"All I can say is that [LNP leader] Campbell Newman does have some decisions to make today and I'm just in shock," she said.

"I'm really appalled and just outraged to see this on the front page of the paper regarding the LNP candidate.

"The LNP really does have some serious questions to ask today."

Topics: liberal-national-party, elections, alp, southport-4215

First posted