Sydney-based senior counsel to prosecute case against federal MP Luke Gosling
The Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions (NTDPP) has engaged an interstate lawyer to take on the assault case against federal MP Luke Gosling, to avoid a perceived conflict of interest.
Sydney-based Senior Counsel Sophie Callan will prosecute the charges against the Member for Solomon, who is alleged to have assaulted NT Administrator David Connolly at the NT Thai Grand Festival in July.
Sophie Callan SC has been appointed by the NT Director of Public Prosecutions to lead the case against Luke Gosling. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
The administrator is the Crown's representative in the NT, a vice-regal role equivalent to a state governor.
Mr Gosling denies the allegations and said he would contest the two assault charges, relating to two separate incidents.
In discussing the allegations during Mr Gosling's first court appearance in July, the MP's lawyer Marty Aust SC said the first alleged incident had occurred "in a manner in which the administrator was unable to see the approach".
David Connolly was sworn into the role of NT administrator in February. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy)
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.
Since his first court appearance, Mr Gosling has also been charged with breaching his bail on August 14.
He subsequently stepped aside as special envoy for defence, veterans' affairs and northern Australia due to the "distraction" his matter was causing the Albanese government.
Commonwealth declined to take on case
Ms Callan's appointment comes a month after the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions declined to take on the case.
An NTDPP spokesperson said it was outsourcing the prosecution case to Ms Callan "to avoid any conflict of interest arising for the NTDPP".
"The prosecution will continue in the ordinary course before the courts," they said.
Ms Callan's website says she has previously appeared for the Crown in the corruption prosecution of former NSW politicians Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid.
She has also appeared as counsel assisting in the Lindt Cafe siege inquest.
Gosling to defend breach of bail charge
Mr Gosling's bail conditions mean he is banned from coming within 50 metres of NT Government House, where Mr Connolly resides.
Mr Gosling also has to give Mr Connolly's office 48 hours' notice before attending any event where both men would be in attendance.
Luke Gosling announced in August that he would "temporarily" stand aside from his special envoy role. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy)
If the two do attend the same event, Mr Gosling is required to stay 15 metres away from the administrator at all times.
A spokesperson for Mr Gosling has previously said despite the breach of bail charge, the MP "did not attend any events at the same time as the administrator" on August 14.
"Mr Gosling is discussing the matter with his legal team, and will be defending the charge," they said.
Mr Gosling's matter is expected to return to Darwin Local Court tomorrow.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.