Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling has been charged with breach of bail conditions after NT Police allege he violated his restrictions on August 14. The bail conditions, set by Judge Stephen Geary on July 31, prohibited Gosling from coming within 50 metres of Government House, where Administrator David Connolly resides. No details have been shared by police regarding the alleged breach, and Gosling's office has stated that he will be defending the charge when it is heard in court on September 30. This marks the second time Gosling has faced charges related to an incident involving Connolly, who was allegedly assaulted by Gosling at a community event in July.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In short:
Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling has been charged with breach of bail, with NT Police alleging the breach happened on August 14.
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breach → charge → August
After two alleged assaults on NT Administrator David Connolly, Mr Gosling's bail included conditions such as not coming within 50 metres of Government House.
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bail → allege → House
The offices for both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Mr Gosling have been contacted for comment.
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offices → contact → comment
Federal politician Luke Gosling has been charged with breaching his bail conditions, less than a month after he was arrested over allegations he assaulted the Northern Territory Administrator.
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he → charge → Administrator
In July, the Labor MP was charged with two counts of assault over an alleged incident involving NT Administrator David Connolly at a community event held in Darwin earlier that month.
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MP → charge → Darwin
Mr Gosling is the Commonwealth's special envoy for defence and veterans' affairs, and has held the seat of Solomon — which includes Darwin and its satellite city of Palmerston — since 2016.
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which → hold → 2016
Mr Gosling's bail conditions were varied in Darwin Local Court on July 31, with the federal MP banned from coming within 50 metres of the NT's Government House — where Mr Connolly resides.
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Connolly → vary → House
Judge Stephen Geary also ordered Mr Gosling to give Mr Connolly's office 48 hours' notice before attending any event where both men would be in attendance.
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men → order → attendance
If the two do attend the same event, Mr Gosling is required to stay 15 metres away from the administrator at all times.
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Gosling → attend → times
In a statement released to media this afternoon, NT Police said Mr Gosling allegedly breached his bail conditions on August 14.
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Gosling → release → August
"Today he was served with a summons to appear in Darwin Local Court on 30 September 2026,"NT Police said.
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Police → serve → September
Gosling to fight assault charges
In a statement released this evening, a spokesperson for Mr Gosling said no details had been shared by police regarding the alleged breach.
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details → gosle → breach
"Neither Mr Gosling nor his office have been made aware of the nature of the alleged breach and have been provided no information from police other than a summons," the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → make → summons
"On Friday, August 14 Mr Gosling did not attend any events at the same time as the administrator.
"
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Gosling → attend → administrator
Mr Gosling is discussing the matter with his legal team, and will be defending the charge."
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Gosling → discuss → charge
The statement said Mr Gosling's office would not comment further "as the matter is before the court", listed to be heard on September 30.
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matter → say → September
During Mr Gosling's first court appearance, the court heard the assault charges related to two separate incidents which allegedly occurred 30 minutes apart.
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which → hear → incidents
In discussing the reported details, Mr Gosling's lawyer Marty Aust SC told the court the first alleged incident had occurred "in a manner in which the administrator was unable to see the approach".
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administrator → discuss → approach
The court heard the second charge pertained to an alleged hip-and-shoulder collision between the two men, during which Mr Gosling allegedly drew back his left elbow and struck Mr Connolly in his upper rib.
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Gosling → hear → rib
Mr Gosling has strenuously denied the assault allegations, with his lawyer previously telling media the charges would be contested in court.
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charges → deny → court
The federal MP has faced pressure to step down from his political role since news broke of the alleged assault, including from Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson and NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
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news → face → Paterson
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to stand down the Solomon MP.
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Taylor → urge → MP
"When these serious charges were first laid, we said this was a test of the prime minister's leadership and Luke Gosling should be stood down from his special envoy role while the matter is dealt with," Mr Taylor said in a statement released this afternoon.
"
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Taylor → lay → statement
Now Mr Gosling has also been charged with allegedly breaching his bail, the case for the prime minister to act is even stronger.
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minister → charge → bail
These allegations are matters for the courts, but Anthony Albanese has a decision to make about who serves in his government.
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who → have → government
He should stand Mr Gosling down today.
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He → stand → Gosling
"
But Mr Albanese has doubled down on his earlier stance, claiming again this evening that it would be inappropriate to comment while legal proceedings play out.
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proceedings → double → stance
No further comment at this time," a spokesperson for the prime minister said.
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spokesperson → say → minister