ETHICS Committee chair Peter Dowling has stepped aside over a sexting scandal. The LNP MP for Redlands this morning announced in Parliament that he was voluntarily stepping down while issues relating to his travel were investigated. Mr Dowling apologised to his family and friends for his behaviour. "To my children, mum, brother and sister, my extended family and friends I am sorry for the shame and embarrassment that I have caused you," he said. Premier Campbell Newman said he understood the matter was being investigated by the Clerk of Parliament. "The House can be assured that the appropriate action is being undertaken in respect to this matter by the appropriate authorities," he said. Mr Newman did not comment on Mr Dowling's sexting. "I am not proud of the events plastered all over today's paper," Mr Dowling said. And I can't and won't defend any part of it. I owe my staff an apology for the calls and emails they will no doubt be fielding. Redlands MP Peter Dowling and his mistress pictured on holiday abroad, seen here in Ireland. I owe my colleagues, my fellow members an apology for any embarrassment or any poor reflection on the party. However, Mr Dowling insisted he had complied with all guidelines in relation to his travel. "I do not wish for this issue and for my family to be dragged through the media any longer than necessary," he said. As such I am today voluntarily stepping aside from both committee roles so that this matter can be fully investigated and considered by the Clerk of Parliament. I don't want pity, I only ask that my family be left alone while this matter is considered by the Clerk. Overnight it was reported that a state MP had been exposed as a serial sexter, sending images to his secret mistress including a picture of his penis plonked in a glass of red wine. IN PICTURES: The MP and his mistress take a holiday UPDATE at 8.30am Tuesday: THE Queensland premier must have known about a porn scandal involving the head of state parliament's ethics committee, former committee chief Alex Douglas says. Dr Douglas said he and others in the parliament had known about the allegations involving Mr Dowling for some time. It defied logic that the premier himself did not know, he said. People have known about it for a while. I think they wanted to know who would do something," Dr Douglas told AAP on Tuesday. The premier has got a huge staff and they trawl all the social networking sites. If they didn't know about this, then they're pretty slow. Dr Douglas, a former LNP MP now with Palmer's United Party, said the role of the ethics committee chairman was to uphold the high standards of the parliament and Mr Dowling's position was now untenable. "If Mr Newman hasn't already removed Mr Dowling, then he's failing in his duty as the premier," Dr Douglas said. Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin said there must be an immediate investigation into any misuse of public funds or resources by Mr Dowling. In the meantime he must stand down from the ethics committee, and the parliamentary crime and misconduct committee, he said. "The personal behaviour of LNP MPs is a matter for the premier and he has to say whether Mr Dowling meets the standards he's set for his MPs," Mr Mulherin said. Mr Dowling's website says he has been married for 27 years and has two children.