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Politics

Federal MP Luke Gosling charged with breaching bail following alleged assault

Northern Territory police issued a court summons to the Labor MP, prompting fresh opposition calls for him to step down from his envoy role.

Updated Aug 25, 2026 · 10:20 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Northern Territory police charged federal Labor MP Luke Gosling with one count of breaching his bail conditions.
  • The charge follows Gosling's July arrest for the alleged assault of NT Administrator David Connolly at a Darwin event.
  • Gosling's office stated he has not been informed of the nature of the alleged breach and plans to defend against the charge.
  • Opposition leaders are urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to stand Gosling down from his special envoy position.

Key facts

  • Federal MP Luke Gosling was served with a summons to appear in Darwin local court on September 30, 2026, for an alleged bail breach on August 14.[The Guardian]
  • Gosling was previously charged with two counts of assault relating to an alleged July 18 incident involving NT Administrator David Connolly.[The Guardian]
  • Gosling's bail conditions required him to stay at least 50 meters from Connolly's residence, provide 48 hours' notice for shared event attendances, and maintain a 15-meter distance if both were present.[The Guardian]
  • Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to stand Gosling down from his role as special envoy for defence, veterans' affairs, and northern Australia.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • The specific nature of the alleged bail breach has not been detailed by police, and Gosling's office noted they have received no information beyond the court summons.[The Guardian]

Sources