Disgraced Victorian state Labor MP Will Fowles, who smashed a hole in the door of a Canberra hotel on Thursday morning, will be away from his job for months on full pay while he is treated for drug and alcohol issues.
Premier Daniel Andrews backed Mr Fowles on Thursday afternoon, saying "he has my full support" but The Age understands that the 40-year-old Burwood MP has been told no more serious incidents will be tolerated.
The nature of the drugs Mr Fowles has been abusing remains unclear.
Mr Fowles was questioned after officers were called at 7.50am to the Abode Hotel, where the MP had an altercation with staff over access to his luggage, which saw hotel patrons evacuated and a door smashed in.
Patrons of the hotel say they were kept outside for some time while police investigated the incident.
Hotel guest Kellie Sloane was among those who left the building.
Victorian Labor MP Will Fowles arrives back in Melbourne from Canberra after the hotel incident.Credit: Joe Armao
"He told the security guard he couldn't access his luggage, he needed his luggage because he had a 9am flight, so he bashed the door down," she told reporters.
Canberra police say they have not charged Mr Fowles, who says he has been dealing with poor mental health and addiction.
But police have not ruled out bringing him to court.
Senior Labor sources indicated there have been concerns around parliament relating to Mr Fowles' struggle with alcohol abuse since he was elected in the November 2018 landslide swing that returned the Andrews government with an increased majority.
Damage to the Abode Hotel in the Canberra suburb of Kingston.Credit: Kellie Sloan/Twitter
Senior Labor sources have told The Age that Mr Fowles was advised during his first week as an MP to "tone down" his behaviour, after his overly celebratory conduct at Labor's post-election party in November raised eyebrows.
In his maiden speech to state parliament in December last year, Mr Fowles said "as parliamentarians, we should set the standard... Only through principled behaviour and disciplined debate will this generation of public leaders win back the trust of the citizens we represent."
In a statement published on Thursday afternoon, the MP apologised to staff at the Abode hotel, his family and constituents, saying he was deeply ashamed of his conduct and would take a leave of absence.
"What happened is unacceptable," he said in his statement
"I am deeply ashamed of my actions. While there are reasons for it, there are no excuses."
"I have, for a long time, been dealing with addiction and other mental health issues.
"Medication I take was in my luggage, which was locked in a room that I was not able to
access, as no staff were on-site.
"I will, of course, pay for all damages."
Will Fowles with Premier Daniel Andrews in Wattle Park last year.
If property damage is valued at less than $5000, the maximum jail sentence in the ACT is two years, well below the five-year threshold that would see Mr Fowles removed from the Victorian Parliament if convicted.
But if the property damage exceeds $5000, the MP could be charged under the territory's criminal code with a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Mr Andrews said Mr Fowles had behaved inappropriately but he had apologised and "I believe he's sincere".
"He's also indicated he has addiction issues. He has my full support as he gets the treatment and care that he needs," Mr Andrews said.
The newly elected Labor MP was in the capital, on what he says was a privately-funded trip, to support new federal MP and Jagajaga representative Kate Thwaites as she gave her first speech on Wednesday evening.
Victorian Labor MP Will Fowles.
He was seen at celebratory drinks in Parliament House following Victorian senator Raff Ciccone's first speech, which was also attended by senior Labor members including Penny Wong, Ed Husic and Kimberley Kitching.
Victoria's opposition was quick to call for Mr Fowles' sacking from the Labor caucus, with Liberal frontbencher Tim Smith saying the incident left Mr Andrews with a series of questions to answer.
"I would describe Will Fowles as a buffoon and his behaviour in Canberra has indicated he is someone who is unfit for public office," Mr Smith said.
"Will Daniel Andrews stick by his factional ally and ensure that he remains the Labor MP for Burwood or will he cut him adrift because his behaviour has breached community expectations?"
Mr Fowles, who was educated at Melbourne's exclusive Scotch College, is a member of the wealthy Fowles family and was last month accused by Victorian Liberal MP James Newbury of failing to pay workers' entitlements when his former Queensland pub went into receivership in 2015.
He was best known for nabbing a seat on the exclusive Melbourne Cricket Club committee as the youngest member in history.
During his time on the high-profile MCC committee, the ebullient Mr Fowles was variously described as "a bit of a ham" and "boisterous".