A Queensland MP has come forward, alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted.
Following a complaint by Queensland MP Brittany Lauga, police in
Australia have initiated an investigation into allegations of drugging and
sexual assault.
Brittany Lauga, who serves as the assistant minister for health,
disclosed that she was assaulted during a night out in her constituency of
Yeppoon.
She remarked, "This could have occurred to anyone, and
sadly, it does happen to many of us."
The reported incident comes amidst ongoing protests addressing
recent instances of violence against women.
Ms. Lauga, aged 37, visited a police
station and then a hospital on April 28th.
"In a statement posted on social media, she revealed, "Tests
conducted at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body, which I
did not ingest." She further mentioned that the substance had a
significant impact on her.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has verified that officers are
investigating a sexual assault complaint related to an incident in Yeppoon on
Sunday.
Reports suggest that Ms. Lauga was contacted by other women who claimed
they were also drugged on the same evening.
"It's unacceptable. We should be able to socialize in our community
without the fear of being drugged or assaulted," she expressed,
emphasizing the need for time to "heal physically and emotionally."
Police have confirmed no additional
reports in the same area, urging anyone with information or similar experiences
to come forward.
"The QPS treats all reports of drink spiking seriously and
investigates them on a case-by-case basis, often in conjunction with other
offenses such as sexual assault," they emphasized.
Ms. Lauga, with nearly a decade in parliament and first elected to the
seat of Keppel in 2015, has garnered support amidst the allegations.
According to Australian media, Queensland Housing Minister Meaghan
Scanlon condemned the acts as "shocking" and "horrifying."
"Brittany is a colleague, a friend, a young woman in Queensland's
parliament, and these revelations are deeply disturbing," Mr. Scanlon
stated. "It's unacceptable that women are disproportionately victims of
domestic, family, and sexual violence. Our government remains dedicated to
protecting women and preventing violence."
The recent surge in gender-based violence was underscored by the tragic
events in April, where Joel Cuachi's attack in a Sydney shopping center claimed
the lives of six individuals, predominantly targeting women, as highlighted by
the New South Wales police commissioner's remarks to Australia's ABC News.
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