Labor MP Luke Gosling set to be prosecuted for assault by Commonwealth DPP

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is set to take over the case against Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling, who is facing two counts of assaulting the NT administrator. The Northern Territory DPP says the decision was made to avoid any perceived conflict of interest. What's next? Mr Gosling's case is due to return to court on September 30. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (Commonwealth DPP) is set to take over the case against Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling, to avoid a perceived conflict of interest within the Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions (NT DPP). Mr Gosling, who has served as the Member for Solomon since 2016, was last week charged with two counts of assaulting Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly. The NT administrator is the territory's equivalent of a state governor. According to a hearing in the Darwin Local Court on Friday, the charges relate to two separate incidents that occurred at the NT Thailand Grand Festival on July 18, including one in which Mr Gosling allegedly elbowed Mr Connolly. At Friday's hearing, which led to changes to the terms of Mr Gosling's bail, the matter was prosecuted by a senior lawyer from the NT Police Force. However, the NT DPP today said in a statement it would not be taking carriage of the matter. "The NT Director of Public Prosecutions received a brief from NT Police in relation to the matter," the statement said. "The DPP determined that it should not have conduct of the matter, and the matter should be referred to another jurisdiction to avoid any perceived conflict of interest." "The NT DPP and Commonwealth DPP are in the process of arranging for the CDPP to take over the prosecution." The NT DPP did not elaborate on the nature of the perceived conflict of interest. The matter is due to return to court on September 30.