Labor's candidate for Brisbane, Pat O'Neill, will comply with a request from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and take down billboards depicting him in uniform.

Three billboards funded by the ALP went up in Brisbane in March.

The ADF contacted Mr O'Neill and asked him to remove them because they had not endorsed them.

Mr O'Neill said although he believed it was important for people to be aware of his history as an Army officer, he has decided to remove them.

"It was never my intention to cause any offence to anybody," he said.

"It's an important part of who I am and I think people want to know who their candidates are.

"I left an 18-year career in the Army to talk about issues that affect people in Brisbane and all Australia. Issues around investment in health and education and having a vision for future growth.

"I didn't leave an 18-year career in the Army to talk about billboards. That's why we are taking the billboards down."

Mr O'Neill would not say whether he was forced to remove the billboards.

"This has become a distraction from the really important issues, around policy, investment in health, investment in education," he said.

"I left my career in the Army to fight for those things, to fight for the future of everyone in Brisbane, everyone in Australia."

O'Neill remains in Army Reserve

The ADF recently dumped federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie from the Army Reserve after he refused to remove campaign material featuring photos of himself in uniform.

Mr O'Neill said when he left the ADF he was transferred into the standby reserve and it was up to the military if he remained in that unpaid unit.

"That was the only option given to Andrew Hastie and myself," he said.

"We both complied with the direction as provided by Defence. In terms of any future actions by Defence, you'll have to have a chat with them."

Mr O'Neill said he worked in Darwin with Mr Hastie and has known him for about 10 years.

"I called him up last night to let him know that he had my support," he said.

"I think it's really sad. I think it's important for him and I to continue talking about our background and to work towards serving the community."