Labor MP Luke Gosling rejects claims he assaulted NT’s Chief Administrator at Thai festival

Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling has denied being caught up in a physical altercation with the Northern Territory’s Administrator over the weekend and described allegations of an assault as “ridiculous”.

Police on Tuesday interviewed the Territory’s vice-regal representative David Connolly at his office after he claimed Mr Gosling had physically assaulted him at the Darwin Thai Festival on Saturday. The alleged altercation has emerged a month after revelations that fellow Albanese government MP Josh Wilson was suspended for punching a soccer opponent in the face during an amateur match in Perth.

The Nightly does not suggest that Mr Gosling is guilty of any misconduct, only that police are investigating the claims.

Following an event with the Prime Minister on Monday, Mr Gosling was asked by Sky News whether he had been involved in a run-in with Mr Connolly, to which he responded “no”.

When asked again the Labor member for Federal Darwin-based seat of Solomon again answered: “No mate”.

A statement released on Tuesday by the NT Administrator’s official secretary Craig Kitchen claimed an incident occurred during Mr Connolly’s “official attendance at a community event over the weekend”.

“The matter has been referred to the Northern Territory Police Force. As the matter is under investigation, no further comment will be made regarding the incident or the parties involved,” the statement concluded.

Shortly after Mr Gosling also responded with a written statement emphatically denying Mr Connolly’s accusation.

“These are ridiculous allegations that I categorically deny,” the Labor MP said.

“I’ve had no dealings with the Administrator since congratulating him following the announcement of his appointment late last year.”

In a statement the Northern Territory Police Force confirmed it was investigating an incident involving the Administrator of the Northern Territory.

“It is alleged the incident occurred during a public event on Saturday 18 July 2026,” a spokesperson told The Nightly.

“The investigation is in its early stages and no further information can be provided at this time,” the spokesperson added, giving no further details.

Two Northern Territory detectives were observed attending the Administrator’s office in Darwin on Tuesday morning, where they spent more than two hours taking a statement from Mr Connolly.

Last weekend’s alleged confrontation between the pair comes after Mr Gosling earlier this year described Mr Connolly’s appointment to the $376,640 per year role by NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro as a “disgrace”.

“The Administrator holds an important position in the Northern Territory and that’s what makes this such a bad decision,” Mr Gosling said in February.

“A really, bad decision because there’s been a deliberate decision by the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory to go with an exclusionary individual rather than an inclusionary person that would have brought Territorians together and represented all Territorians.”

The comments followed revelations about Mr Connolly’s past social media posts where he’d voiced controversial personal views on topics ranging from COVID-19 vaccines to Welcome to Country ceremonies and women in sport.

In February Governor-General Sam Mostyn said she was pleased the former head of the NT Cattlemen’s Association had given a “full apology” for his past comments, when she travelled to Darwin for his formal swearing-in ceremony at Parliament House.

Mr Connolly’s controversial appointment as the NT Administrator was announced in late 2025 by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who has stood firmly by her choice ever since.