A female MP claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted in a pub car park after a grainy Snapchat video of the incident emerged online in what she described as the ‘worst week of her life’.
Labor MP Brittany Lauga, Assistant Minister for Health in the Queensland state government, has identified herself as appearing in the Snapchat video recorded last Saturday outside a pub in the central Queensland town of Yeppoon.
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.
Queensland Labor MP Brittany Lauga claims she was drugged and then sexually assaulted in a pub car park
However, Mrs. Lauga told the story News Ltd which she shows in the Snapchat video of the alleged attack, which has been widely circulated among her friends and in the media.
Ms Lauga insists that before learning of the video, she filed a police complaint and underwent a four-hour interview with them, and tested positive in 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.
“I watched the video,” she said.
‘It was just horrible, horrible to watch. You know, the next few days were just a living nightmare.
“You wake up and have to remind yourself that this is reality.
‘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 the hospital confirmed the presence of medications that she “had not taken.”
“This substance has had a significant impact on me,” she said.
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.
Videos and images of the alleged incident are circulating widely on social media, including this image. It is unclear whether it concerns the night in question
At that point she decided to go to the police station and have a formal interview with them on Monday.
After the police interview and hospital tests, Ms Lauga said she went home, took a long, powerful 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 customary with such investigations, no further comment will be made at this time.’
Ms Lauga told News Ltd she did not think the video was the last material to be made public.
“I think those people have more,” she said.
“It’s the worst week of my life.”
She indicated that her leave period would likely last until next week.
In response to Ms Lauga’s disclosure, Queensland Premier Stephen Miles released a statement offering his and his government’s full support.
“No one should have to go through what Brittany is going through,” the statement said.
“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.’