Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling has temporarily stood aside from his role as one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's special envoys after being charged with breaching his bail conditions. The move follows an earlier charge of assaulting Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly, raising political pressure on Albanese over how the government is handling the affair, with opposition figures calling for Gosling's removal from his post entirely rather than a temporary step-back.

Gosling, 54 and the Member for Solomon, was initially charged in July over the alleged assault of Connolly at the NT Thailand Grand Festival in Darwin. He was charged again this week with one count of breaching bail, relating to his attendance at the Australia-Bangladesh Test match in Darwin, where he allegedly failed to keep the required distance from Connolly or give proper notice of attendance. Gosling denies all allegations, says he will fight the charges when he appears in Darwin Local Court on 30 September, and has stood aside as Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans' Affairs and Northern Australia to avoid distracting from government business. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and One Nation's Barnaby Joyce have both called for him to be stood down fully, while NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the matter was for Albanese to resolve.