Federal MP Luke Gosling 'categorically denies' incident with NT administrator

The Northern Territory administrator's office has alleged an incident occurred during a community event in Darwin on the weekend, but has not confirmed the nature of the allegations. Solomon MP Luke Gosling has "categorically denied" assaulting the administrator at the event, and says he has not had anything to do with him for months. NT Police has confirmed officers are investigating. Northern Territory Police have confirmed they are investigating an alleged incident involving NT Administrator David Connolly at a community event in Darwin. Media outlets have reported that Mr Connolly has alleged he was assaulted by federal Labor MP Luke Gosling, while both men were attending the NT Thailand Grand Festival on Saturday. Mr Gosling, a former army commando and the Commonwealth's special envoy for defence and veterans affairs, has vehemently denied the allegations. "These are ridiculous allegations that I categorically deny," he said in a statement. "I've had no dealings with the Administrator since congratulating him following the announcement of his appointment late last year." Both Mr Connolly and Mr Gosling were involved in parts of the festival's official proceedings. The administrator is the NT's representative of King Charles III, a vice-regal role equivalent to a state governor. In a statement, the administrator's spokesperson said "an incident occurred during His Honour the Administrator's official attendance at a community event over the weekend". "The matter has been referred to the Northern Territory Police Force," they said. "As the matter is under investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the incident or the parties involved." NT Police detectives were filmed leaving Mr Connolly's office near Government House in Darwin CBD on Tuesday morning. When contacted by the ABC, Mr Connolly said "what do you want?", and when asked about the alleged incident, he hung up the phone. Mr Connolly drew controversy earlier this year around his social media history, with some of his posts described at the time by Mr Gosling and two other Labor colleagues as "reprehensible and offensive". According to the NT Criminal Code, anyone found guilty of an assault on the NT administrator while "he is engaged in the discharge of his official functions" could be liable to imprisonment for 14 years.