Daniel Cheverton, the sacked Labor candidate at his Wynnum home. Pic Mark Cranitch. Source: News Limited

Ms Palaszczuk yesterday said she only found out about the internal investigation into Lytton candidate Daniel Cheverton after The Courier-Mail made inquiries late on Thursday – even though the incident occurred in June.

The Courier-Mail revealed a complaint was lodged against him by a female candidate following an incident during a campaign training weekend.

ALCOHOL ISSUE: Labar candidate quits

Mr Cheverton’s behaviour towards the woman – which happened during post-training drinks and was described by the party as “clearly inappropriate” – resulted in independent legal advice being sought, an internal investigation and counselling for the Lytton candidate.

Lytton has long been held by the party’s Right, and it could well fast-track the selection of the new candidate rather than stage a drawnout preselection process only months from the state election.

It is understood the Right have the numbers on the ground, should the preselection be decided through a rank-and-file ballot.

Ms Palaszczuk issued a statement shortly before 9.30am yesterday, saying she had been informed about Mr Cheverton misconduct while on leave and that she had asked state party secretary Evan Moorhead to find a new candidate.

“I expect all Labor candidates to meet the highest standards,” she said.

Mr Cheverton took to Facebook hours later to formally announce his resignation, adding that he had sought “professional help” to rein in his “issue with alcohol”.

He said he did not want to be a “distraction” for the party during next year’s election campaign.

“Out of respect for the other person involved, I won’t be commenting further,” he said. “However, this incident made me realise I had an issue with alcohol and I sought professional help to manage this.

“Notwithstanding the party’s internal investigation that finalised this matter some time ago, I respect the leader’s right to have the team of her choosing.”

By 3pm, Mr Cheverton was scrubbed from the ALP website.

Former mining minister Stirling Hinchliffe dropped in on Mr Cheverton at his Wynnum home.

His mother, meanwhile, took to social media to defend his “deep commitment to public life”.

“I am proud to be your Mum,” Jennie Peut wrote on Facebook. “We all have our demons to face in life’s journey and we will hold you in our hearts as you travel this difficult and painful section of your road.

“I know it will bring you to a point of even greater integrity and wholeness.”

Lytton is the LNP’s fifth most vulnerable seat, with a margin of 1.5 per cent