Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling has been arrested and charged over an alleged assault on the Northern Territory's administrator, David Connolly, an incident he has previously denied.
Key facts
- Luke Gosling, 54, the federal Labor member for Solomon, was arrested on Thursday morning.
- NT police say the arrest and charge relate to an alleged assault on the NT administrator.
- The administrator involved is David Connolly, according to the Guardian.
- Gosling has previously denied the alleged incident.
- The alleged assault is said to have occurred earlier this month.
Luke Gosling, the federal Labor member for Solomon, was arrested on Thursday morning over an alleged assault on the Northern Territory’s administrator, NT police said in a statement.
“The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested the 54-year-old federal member for Solomon in relation to an alleged assault on the Administrator of the Northern Territory,” police said, according to the Guardian.
Police later confirmed that Gosling had been formally charged. “The Northern Territory police force has charged the 54-year-old federal member for Solomon, Luke Gosling, in relation to an alleged assault on the administrator of the Northern Territory,” police said in a statement on Thursday.
The alleged incident is reported to have taken place earlier this month. The administrator involved is David Connolly, according to the Guardian.
Gosling has previously denied the alleged incident, the Guardian reported. No further details about the circumstances of the alleged assault were provided in the police statements.
Why it matters
The arrest and charging of a sitting federal MP is a significant development in Australian politics. The case involves the Northern Territory's administrator, a senior ceremonial office, adding to public interest in how the matter proceeds.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Luke Gosling?
Luke Gosling is the federal Labor member for Solomon. He is 54 years old, according to NT police statements reported by the Guardian.
What is Gosling accused of?
NT police say he has been arrested and charged in relation to an alleged assault on the Northern Territory's administrator, David Connolly, earlier this month. Gosling has previously denied the alleged incident.
Has Gosling responded to the allegation?
According to the Guardian, Gosling has previously denied the alleged incident. No further response was included in the source reports.