A Labor MP who claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted on a night out has previously endured a lengthy court battle after claiming she was stalked by a man.
Brittany Lauga, Queensland’s assistant health minister, revealed she had made a complaint to police after a night out in Yeppoon on Saturday, April 27.
She claimed she was sexually assaulted after a Snapchat video was widely circulated on social media showing her having intimate contact with a man.
Ms Lauga described the events of the past week as “the worst of all [her] to live’.
But in December 2017, Ms Lauga claimed she was the victim of stalking by a male blogger who claimed he was investigating possible fraud by the Keppel MP and her then husband.
She told Rockhampton Magistrates Court at the time that she lived in a constant state of fear, was ‘terrified’ of the man and ‘suffered in great fear for a long time’.
“I feel like my phone is tapped or bugged,” she said at the time.
Brittany Lauga, Queensland’s Deputy Health Minister, revealed she had made a complaint to police after a night out in Yeppoon on Saturday, April 27.
The charges were later dismissed by the court, as a magistrate ruled that there was no way for a jury to find that the allegations were true beyond a reasonable doubt.
And a year earlier, Mrs Lauga was forced to defend herself in a tearful speech to parliament after reports emerged that her husband was involved in an ugly brawl in a bar.
Keppel Sands Pub owner Mark Hurst told media at the time that ‘Brittany was asked to remove her husband because he was the aggressor.
“She’s only connected because of the association with the relationship.”
Obviously the night got heated during a rugby league match and it was ‘nothing’ [bar staff] couldn’t handle’.
But Ms Lauga was distraught after the incident was made public and offered a brief explanation to parliament shortly after the article was published.
“In response to media reports that have come to my attention this evening, I am deeply upset and hurt by the way this story has been portrayed,” she said.
“I value my integrity and honesty as a Member of Parliament. The newspaper’s claim that I was asked to leave a licensed premises and then banned is simply not true.
‘I can confirm that my husband and I were in a pub watching football on Saturday evening and it got as loud as they did.
She was forced to defend herself in a tearful speech to parliament after reports emerged that her husband was involved in an ugly row in a bar. (Pictured: Mrs. Lauga with her ex-husband, Wayne)
The owner of the Keppel Sands Pub (pictured), Mark Hurst, told the media at the time that ‘Brittany was asked to remove her husband because he was the aggressor’
‘My husband and I were not involved in any arguments and I reject the suggestion that we were. Due to the noisy environment, I urged my husband to leave, and we did.
“It is always disturbing when your private life appears on the front page, but my marriage, my integrity and my work as a representative of the people of Keppel remain my top priority.”
In 2021, after divorcing her husband, Ms. Lauga revealed that she was the target of yet another incident.
Ms Lauga told voters that someone had “set up a fake Gmail address impersonating me.”
She said the person had “contacted the media with lies about my apparent love life.”
“I have reported this to the police,” she said. “Seriously, whoever you are, get a life.
‘This is exactly why more women don’t enter politics.’
Ms Lauga declared in 2022 as part of her register of interests that she had won a personal injury claim and received a payment in excess of the minimum declareable amount of $1,088.28. Further details about the claim have not been made public.
Daily Mail Australia previously reported that a female politician had filed a complaint of sexual assault after a night out last Saturday, but did not name 37-year-old Lauga.
Ms. Lauga says she filed a police complaint before learning about the video, underwent a four-hour interview with officers, and tested positive at the hospital for a drug she says she did not take.
She said the video prompted her to come forward, but also feels she owes an explanation to her constituents in Yeppoon about why she is on mental health leave.
Ms Lauga said she felt ‘terrible’ and the following days were a ‘living nightmare’.
“You wake up and have to remind yourself that this is reality,” she said.
‘I went straight to the police station and hospital after the alleged assault took place and they prepared a forensic rape kit. They did drug tests, blood, urine, everything.”
She said in her statement that the hospital confirmed the presence of medications that she “had not taken.”
Daily Mail Australia previously reported that a female politician had filed a complaint of sexual assault after a night out last Saturday, but did not name Ms Lauga, 37.
“This substance has had a significant impact on me,” she said. ‘Several women have contacted me who have experienced the same thing in our city.
‘It’s not okay. We should be able to enjoy socializing in our city without the risk of being drugged or attacked.”
Ms Lauga said a doctor told her that women in Yeppoon were being drugged on a weekly basis.
In the video, recorded by bystanders across the street, Ms. Lauga appears to have intimate contact with a man in a parking lot.
After the incident, Ms Lauga said she was unable to get a taxi and had to walk home, where her family came to comfort her on Sunday morning.
Ms Lauga said she collapsed in front of her brother and told him she thought she had been raped.
At that point she decided to go to the police station and have a formal interview with them on Monday.
After the police questioning and hospital tests, Ms Lauga said she went home, took a long shower and slept all day.
The police said in a statement that they are investigating the matter.
“The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is investigating a complaint of sexual assault in relation to an incident,” the statement said
“The investigation into this matter is still ongoing. As is usual with such investigations, no further comment will be made at this time.”
Ms Lauga said she did not think the video was the last material to be made public, describing it as “the worst week of my life”.
She indicated that her leave period would likely last until next week.
In response to Ms Lauga’s public statement, Queensland Premier Steven Miles offered his government’s full support.
“No one should have to go through what Brittany is going through,” the statement read.
“My sole focus is on Brittany and her well-being. I told Brittany that we are here to support her, whatever she needs.
‘This matter is currently the subject of a police investigation.
‘Out of respect for her privacy and in the interests of allowing police to complete their investigation, it is not appropriate for me to comment further.’