Arabic version: غوسلينغ يعتزم خوض اختيار حزب العمال رغم بقاء التهم دون حسم

According to ABC News, Darwin-based federal Labor MP Luke Gosling will seek preselection for the next federal election while facing unresolved assault and breach of bail charges. The Member for Solomon said he would “absolutely be running for preselection” through Labor’s normal party processes.

Mr Gosling has been charged with two counts of assaulting Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly at the NT Thai Grand Festival in July. He was subsequently charged with breaching bail in August. He denies all allegations, while his lawyer, Marty Aust SC, told the Darwin Local Court last month that he would ask prosecutors to withdraw the charges because of “insufficient evidence”.

Mr Gosling said his arrest had been politicised and said support from party members and Territorians had encouraged him. He said he would not be distracted from representing Darwin and Palmerston, and that future Territorians would look back on the prosecution and “shake their head”.

Mr Aust previously told the court there was not a single eyewitness to an alleged assault event, except for Mr Connolly’s wife, whose account he said placed it at a different location, time and description. Mr Gosling is due to return to court later this month.

The case has also renewed attention on Mr Connolly’s appointment as administrator, a vice-regal role equivalent to a state governor. Asked whether there should be further scrutiny if the charges were dropped, Mr Gosling said appointments were a matter for others to consider. CLP minister Jinson Charls said the NT government would provide a further response if the question remained relevant. Territory Labor president Clare Martin said federal preselections were not yet open in the NT or nationally.