By Anthony Segaert and Carrie Fellner
The police officer son of former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has been charged over an alleged assault in the inner Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst.
Nicholas James McCormack, 26, was arrested around 1am on Saturday, after police responded to reports of an assault along William Street.
Nicholas McCormack, left, the son of former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack, right, has been charged with multiple counts of assault.Credit: Facebook, James Brickwood
He was later charged with four counts of assault: three counts of common assault, and one count of common assault (domestic violence). He was granted conditional bail and is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on December 13.
Nicholas McCormack is the youngest son of former Nationals leader Michael McCormack, who served as deputy prime minister from 2018 to 2021.
Michael McCormack did not respond to multiple approaches for comment by this masthead.
Nicholas McCormack’s lawyer, Paul McGirr, said his client’s charges were a “contested matter”.
“There’s more evidence to follow,” he said.
“We all need to remind ourselves that [there is] a presumption of innocence before anyone jumps to conclusions, regardless of whether he’s a police officer or a son of a politician.
“And that’s all I’m going to say at this stage because all I have is a fact sheet.”
NSW Police says it is reviewing the employment status of the constable, who is attached to a special command unit.
Nicholas McCormack was inducted into the force in December 2020 in a ceremony at the Sydney Cricket Ground, being watched on by his father and former prime minister Scott Morrison.
The deputy prime minister told The Daily Telegraph at the time that he was “very proud” of his son and his colleagues.
“They’ve all done a sterling job this year under great adversity and even though COVID-19 has been such a challenge for everybody, the police have been there all the way,” he said.
Michael McCormack’s son Nicholas has previously supported his father on the campaign trail.Credit: Nine
Social media posts and contemporaneous news articles show the constable also played in the force’s official AFL club, the NSW Blue Heelers.
He was selected to play in the All Australian Police AFL team in 2022 and was named “best player for NSW” in a match during last year’s National Football Championships in the same year.
Investigations into the matter are continuing.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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