Federal Darwin MP charged with breaching bail after alleged assault on King’s representative

Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling has been charged with breaching bail in relation to the ongoing allegations he assaulted Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly.

NT Police said on Tuesday they allege Gosling breached his bail conditions on Friday, August 14, and served him with a summons to appear in Darwin Local Court on September 30.

Police did not specify what is alleged to have occurred.

Gosling posted a picture to Facebook at the Test match in Darwin between Australian and Bangladesh on the date of the alleged breach. It was reported by the NT News that Connolly was at the venue but it was unclear if that is where the alleged offence occurred.

The MP, who is the Albanese government’s special envoy for defence, veterans’ affairs and Northern Australia, was arrested at his home last month and charged with two counts of assaulting Connolly with the offences carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.

He appeared in Darwin Local Court on July 31, successfully applying to vary his bail conditions so he could attend the same public events as Connolly, provided he stayed at least 15 metres away and gave Connolly’s office 48 hours’ notice.

He was also banned from coming within 50m of the NT’s Government House, where Connolly resides. The administrator is the Crown’s representative in the NT, a vice-regal role equivalent to a state governor.

Prosecutors had opposed the variation, telling the court Connolly had cancelled public engagements because of concerns about encountering Gosling and arguing the restrictions were needed for the administrator’s “safety and well-being”.

The alleged assaults occurred at the Darwin Thai Grand Festival on July 18.

It is alleged Gosling approached Connolly from behind in the first incident and, in the second, collided with him before drawing back his left elbow and striking him in the upper right rib area.

Gosling denies the allegations. His lawyer, Marty Aust, has described the prosecution case as “incredibly weak” and accused police of politicising the matter.

Gosling has also disputed the police account of events leading to his arrest, saying he was first contacted while working in Queensland and that his office had been trying to arrange a meeting with detectives.

Police Commissioner Martin Dole said detectives had made multiple attempts to contact him before the arrest.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is preparing to take over the assault case from the NT DPP, which cited a perceived conflict of interest.

It was reported by ABC Darwin the conflict relates to concerns about how the acting NT DPP’s handling of the case could be perceived given the prospect of a permanent appointment to the role.

Under section 44 of the Constitution, a federal MP convicted and sentenced for an offence punishable by at least one year’s imprisonment can be disqualified from parliament, meaning any conviction could trigger a byelection.

He has held the seat of Solomon — which includes Darwin and its satellite city of Palmerston — since 2016. He held off a threat from the Country Liberals by just 1500 votes in May last year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to stand down Gosling from his role as an envoy for veterans over the assault charges, despite calls from the Coalition.

His office has declined to comment, citing an ongoing legal process.

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