A Labor MP has called on his colleagues to hold themselves to “high standards” as Special Defence Envoy Luke Gosling faces two assault charges.
It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refuses to stand Mr Gosling down from his role ahead of his court appearance on September 30.
Labor MP Josh Burns told News24.com.au that it was a “fair question” to ask whether the government has a “standards problem” while Mr Gosling remains in his role.
“Well, I think that’s a fair question, although I don’t have all of the details of what’s occurred here,” Mr Burns told Sunday Agenda.
“I think we have to hold ourselves to high standards. I think people also need to have the presumption of innocence and that there needs to be a fair process.”
Mr Gosling has been charged with two counts of assault over an alleged incident involving Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly at a public event in Darwin.
Mr Burns said the allegations were serious and that Mr Gosling took the matter “very personally and seriously”.
“We’ll wait and see what that investigation comes to, but otherwise it’s up to all of us to hold ourselves to an extremely high standard,” he said.
The comments come after senior Labor Minister Mark Butler previously acknowledged that Mr Gosling would have been expected to stand aside had he been a minister.
“Of course, as you know, if he were a minister, he would be required to stand aside,” Mr Butler earlier told Sunday Agenda.
“But the special envoy has a very different position. It doesn’t have extra salary… it doesn’t have executive authority.”
Mr Butler defended the decision to allow Mr Gosling to remain in the position, arguing the special envoy role carried no executive authority or decision-making power.
The government has continued to point to the presumption of innocence as Mr Gosling faces the criminal proceedings.
The issue has become another pressure point for Defence Minister Richard Marles, who is also facing criticism over Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh’s performance.
Mr Keogh’s troubles have been building around the government’s decision to introduce a $5,000 annual cap for allied health treatment for veterans from July 1, 2027.
The government argues the threshold will improve the sustainability of the system, increase payments to allied health providers and ensure treatment is clinically required.
It says there will be a mechanism for additional funding where there is a valid clinical need.
But veterans’ advocates have warned that the policy could make access to ongoing treatment more difficult, particularly for people with complex and chronic conditions.
The crisis intensified when Mr Keogh initially declined to meet the Coalition of Veterans’ Voices that had travelled to Canberra on Monday to raise their concerns.
Under pressure, he subsequently agreed to meet the group, claiming he was forced to skip a meeting with Governor-General Sam Mostyn in order to do so.
Veterans then revealed after the meeting that Mr Keogh had rolled his eyes, slouched in his chair and in general did not show a desire to consult with those in his care.
Former pilot Dr Tim Nelson alleged the minister walked into the room, refused to shake hands, sat with his arms crossed and rolled his eyes.
Mr Keogh has denied those allegations and said he shook the hands of those who attended at the conclusion of the meeting.
Former Navy diver John Armfield gave another account, saying Mr Keogh was slouched in his seat and questioned his demeanour throughout the meeting.
The veterans also said the minister made clear he was unhappy to be there, with Mr Keogh reportedly referring to a clash with an event involving Ms Mostyn.
The controversy forced Mr Keogh into a mea culpa in parliament, where he acknowledged he had “got it wrong” by initially failing to make time to meet the veterans.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly maintained confidence in his minister, despite calls for his removal from the veterans’ community and Coalition MPs.
Read related topics:Labor Under FireLuke Gosling