Labor member for Solomon Luke Gosling before Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 17, 2026. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
A Top End Labor politician accused of assaulting the King’s representative has been slapped with an additional charge for allegedly breaching his bail conditions.
Luke Gosling, the federal member for the Darwin-based seat of Solomon, was released on bail after being arrested in July over allegations he assaulted Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly.
NT Police allege the 54-year-old breached his bail conditions on Aug. 14.
The former soldier-turned-politician was charged on Aug. 25 with one count of breach of bail and is scheduled to appear in Darwin Local Court on Sept. 30.
Gosling, who is the government’s special envoy for defence, veterans affairs and northern Australia, previously denied the assault allegations and has vowed to fight them in court.
The incident reportedly occurred at the NT Thailand Grand Festival in Darwin on July 18, with Gosling posting photos from the event on social media that day.
He was later charged with two counts of assault.
The charges have triggered a slew of political debate, with the opposition accusing the prime minister of failing to act after Gosling was not removed from his role as special envoy.
Nationals and Liberal senators also want Gosling to stand aside from the role until legal proceedings end.
Gosling’s lawyer, Marty Aust SC, previously criticised police for arresting the politician at his home instead of issuing him a summons or notice to appear.
The NT administrator is a position similar to a state governor, who represents the nation’s head of state King Charles, with Connolly sworn into the role in February.
As part of his bail conditions, Gosling is banned from going within 50 metres of the NT’s Government House building and must give the administrator’s office 48 hours’ notice before attending any event where the two men would be present.
If they are at an event together, the Labor MP must not be within 15 metres of Connolly.
By Aaron Bunch in Perth
