‘Horrifying’ and ‘shocking’: Queensland minister reacts to fellow MP’s drugging, assault allegations
Queensland Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon has called a fellow state MP’s allegations of being drugged and sexually assaulted last weekend “shocking” and “horrifying”.
Brittany Lauga, the Assistant Minister for Health, posted a statement on social media on Saturday morning describing the alleged attack that she reported to Yeppoon Police in the early hours of April 28.
Labor's Keppel MP Brittany Lauga.Credit: Brittany Lauga - Facebook.
“I went to the Yeppoon Police Station and Yeppoon Hospital, after being drugged and sexually assaulted,” she wrote on social media.
“Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body which I did not take. This substance impacted me significantly.”
The member for Keppel said she had been contacted by other women who believed they had also been drugged in Yeppoon, about 38 kilometres north-east of Rockhampton.
“This could have happened to anyone and tragically, it does happen to many of us,” Lauga said.
“I have had multiple women contact me who have experienced the same thing in our town.
“It’s not OK. We should be able to enjoy socialising in our town without the risk of being drugged or assaulted.”
Queensland Police have confirmed they are investigating a sexual assault complaint relating to an incident in Yeppoon last Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference in Upper Coomera on Saturday, Scanlon would not confirm any private conversations she had with Lauga in relation to the incident, describing the MP’s statement as “difficult reading”.
“Brittany is a colleague, she is a friend, she is a young woman in the Queensland parliament and these are really shocking things to read,” Scanlon said.
“It is unacceptable that women are disproportionately the victims of domestic, family and sexual violence. Our government is going to continue to do everything we can to protect women and stop violence from occurring.
“We have criminalised coercive control, we have criminalised revenge porn, we’ve brought in an affirmative model of consent, and we have increased funding to domestic and family violence and sexual violence services.”
The shocking allegations come during a pivotal time as the nation grapples with the issue of men’s violence and the rates of domestic and family violence disproportionately affecting women and children.
Last weekend, rallies were held across the country to protest against the alleged murders of 33 women in domestic violence attacks in Australia since the beginning of the year and demand action from the federal government.
About 3000 people gathered in Brisbane’s King George Square on Sunday, including Premier Steven Miles, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D’Ath and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than one in five (22 per cent or 2.2 million) women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, with the perpetrator more commonly a male than female.
Lauga thanked those who had reached out to show support following the assault but requested privacy and time to “physically and emotionally heal”.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me in support. I truly value your thoughtful messages, gestures and kindness,” Lauga said.
“If you have any information that may assist the investigation, please tell the police.”
In a statement, police said no additional reports in the region have been made but they are aware of claims of similar incidents and ask anyone with information or who have experienced something similar to contact police.
“The QPS takes all reports of drink spiking seriously and investigates reports of drink spiking on a case-by-case basis, and often in conjunction with other offences such as sexual assault,” police said.
“The QPS encourages anyone who believes they have had their drink spiked to formally report the matter to police as soon as possible. This ensures police can obtain all relevant evidence in a timely manner and assists investigators to overcome any evidentiary challenges.”
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
If you are in immediate danger, phone triple zero (000) and ask for police.
You can phone the Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120 (7.30am to 11.30pm, 7 days a week).
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