Fresh hell for sexually assaulted MP after a series of shocking controversies – as she declares her latest crisis ‘the worst in her life’

A Labor MP who claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted on a night out previously endured a prolonged court case after claiming she was stalked by a man.

Brittany Lauga, the Queensland state government Assistant Minister for Health, revealed she had made a police complaint 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 which appeared to show her in intimate contact with a man.

Ms Lauga described the events of the last week as ‘the worst of (her) life’.

But back in December 2017, Ms Lauga claimed she was the victim of stalking by a male blogger who claimed he was investigating potential fraud conducted by the Keppel MP and her then-husband.

She told Rockhampton Magistrates Court at the time she was living in a constant state of fear, ‘terrified’ by the man and suffered ‘great anxiety for a long time’.

‘I feel like my phone is bugged or tapped,’ she said at the time.

The charge was later thrown out by the court, with a magistrate ruling there was no possible way a jury could find the allegations to be true beyond reasonable doubt.

And a year earlier, Ms Lauga was forced to defend herself in a tearful late-night address to parliament after reports surfaced that her husband was involved in an ugly bar spat.

The owner of the Keppel Sands Pub, Mark Hurst, told media at the time that ‘Brittany was asked to remove her husband because he was the aggressor.

‘She is only linked because of the association with the relationship.’

It’s understood the evening got heated during a rugby league match, and that it was ‘nothing (bar staff) couldn’t handle’.

But Ms Lauga was distracted after the incident was made public, and offered a short explanation in parliament shortly after the article was published.

‘In response to media reports that have come to my attention tonight, I am deeply upset and hurt by the way this story has been depicted,’ she said.

‘I value my integrity and honesty as a member of parliament. The claim in the paper that I was asked to leave a licensed venue and have subsequently been banned is simply just not true.

‘I can confirm that my husband and I were at a pub on Saturday night watching football and things got rowdy, as they do.

‘My husband and I were not involved in any fight, and I rejected the suggestion that we were. Because of the rowdy environment I urged my husband to leave, and we did.

‘It is always disturbing to have your private life displayed on the front page, but my marriage, my integrity and my work representing the people of Keppel continue to be my top priority.’

In 2021, after splitting from her husband, Ms Lauga revealed she’d been targeted in yet another incident.

Ms Lauga told constituents someone had ‘set up a fake Gmail address impersonating me’.

She said the person had been ‘contacting media outlets 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 precisely why more women don’t get into 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 declarable sum of $1,088.28. Further details about the claim were not made public.

Daily Mail Australia previously reported that a female politician lodged a complaint of sexual assault after a night out last Saturday but did not name Ms Lauga, 37.

Ms Lauga says she made a police complaint before learning of the video, and underwent a four-hour interview with officers, as well as testing 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 Yeppoon constituents as to why she is on mental health leave.

Ms Lauga said she felt ‘awful’ and that the following days were a ‘living nightmare’.

‘You wake up and you have to remind yourself this is reality,’ she said.

‘I went to the police station and the hospital straight after it (the alleged assault) happened and they did forensic rape kit. They’ve done drug tests, blood, urine, everything.’

She said in her statement the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs that she ‘did not take’.

‘This substance impacted me significantly,’ she said. ‘I have had multiple women contact me who have experienced the same thing in our town.

‘It’s not ok. We should be able to enjoy socializing in our town without the risk of being drugged or assaulted.’

Ms Lauga told a doctor told her women were drugged in Yeppoon on a weekly basis.

In the video, which was shot by standers across the street, Ms Lauga appears to be in intimate contact with a man in a carpark.

After the incident Ms Lauga said she could not 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 telling him she thought she had been raped.

It was then she decided to go to the police station and had the formal interview with them on Monday.

After the police interview and hospital testing, Ms Lauga said she went home and had a long shower and slept through the day.

Police have issued a statement saying they are investigating the matter.

‘The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is investigating a sexual assault complaint relating to an incident,’ the statement said

‘Investigations into this matter are ongoing. As is routine in such investigations, no further comment will be made at this time.’

Ms Lauga said she did not think the video was the last of the material that could be made public, describing it as ‘the worst week of my life’.

She indicated her leave period would likely extend into next week.

In response to Ms Lauga’s public statement, Queensland Premier Steven Miles offered the full support of his government.

‘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’ve told Brittany that we’re here to support her, whatever she needs.

‘This matter is currently subject to a police investigation.

‘Out of respect of her privacy, and in the interests of allowing the police to complete their investigation, it is not appropriate for me to comment any further.’