Police allege Labor MP Luke Gosling breached one bail condition on 14 August. Photograph: AAPView image in fullscreenPolice allege Labor MP Luke Gosling breached one bail condition on 14 August. Photograph: AAPFederal MP Luke Gosling charged with breaching bail after alleged assault in NTMember for Solomon was charged after an alleged incident at a cultural festival in Darwin in July
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Northern Territory police has charged federal Labor MP Luke Gosling with one count of breaching bail conditions less than one month after he was arrested over the alleged assault of the Territory’s administrator, David Connolly.
Gosling was charged with two counts of assault over an incident that allegedly occurred at a cultural festival in Darwin on 18 July.
He appeared before the Darwin local court on 31 July and was released with several bail conditions.
Police released a statement on Tuesday afternoon alleging Gosling had breached one of those bail conditions on 14 August.
“The Northern Territory Police Force has charged the Federal Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling, with one count of breach of bail,” NT police said.
“Today he was served with a summons to appear in Darwin Local Court on 30 September 2026.”
The 54-year-old was elected the member for Solomon in 2016, representing Darwin and Palmerston in the Northern Territory.
A former military officer, he is the special envoy for defence, veterans’ affairs and northern Australia.
Gosling’s bail conditions included staying at least 50 metres from the administrator’s house, and his office was required to provide Connelly’s office 48 hours’ notice for any event where the pair would be in attendance.
If the two men were at the same event, the conditions also stated Gosling must remain at least 15 metres from Connelly.
The administrator has a similar function to a state governor.
Assaulting an administrator while they are performing official duties carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail under NT law.
Gosling and the prime minister were contacted for comment. Gosling has previously denied the allegations and denied having any altercation with Connolly.
After his arrest, Gosling wrote on social media that he would focus on his job. He attended parliament in Canberra during the last sitting fortnight.
“I’ve got a job to do, and I’ll be working hard, as always, to serve the people of Darwin and Palmerston,” he wrote on 30 July.
The shadow minister for defence, James Paterson, has again called on Albanese to stand Gosling down from his envoy role after the latest charge.
“Anthony Albanese’s judgment has been exposed again. He should have immediately stood Luke Gosling aside as special envoy when he was first charged with assault,” Paterson told Guardian Australia.
“Now police allege Mr Gosling has breached bail. Surely this is enough for the prime minister to admit he got it wrong and immediately stand down his special envoy until this matter is resolved.”
The leader of the opposition, Angus Taylor, also called for Gosling to be stood down, and said “the case for the prime minister to act is even stronger”.
