Former SA Liberal MP Sam Duluk branded ‘drunken pest’ but cleared of assault

A former Liberal MP has been ­acquitted of assaulting a female MP at a Christmas party but a magistrate labelled him an ‘uncouth drunken pest’.

Sam Duluk leaves the Magistrates Court in Adelaide on Tuesday. Picture: David Mariuz

A former Liberal MP has been ­acquitted of assaulting a female MP at a Christmas party but has had his re-election chances damaged after the magistrate labelled him an “uncouth drunken pest”.

The acquittal of South Australian independent MP Sam Duluk on one charge of common assault threatens to trigger an election-eve factional brawl within the SA Liberals as his conservative faction demands he be allowed to rejoin the party and recontest his seat of Waite.

Mr Duluk stood with his head bowed as magistrate John Wells delivered a withering character assessment, but said he was unable to reach a guilty verdict. This was because diverging versions of events had been given by witnesses at the 2019 party, where it was alleged he slapped SA Best MP Connie Bonaros’s bottom.

“Your behaviour towards Ms Bonaros does not, in law, amount to a criminal offence but it was rude, unpleasant, insensitive and disrespectful – you owe her an apology,” Mr Wells told Mr Duluk. “You were behaving like a drunken pest.”

Mr Duluk issued a brief statement after the verdict saying he would apologise again to Ms Bonaros. He also confirmed he had no intention of leaving state politics but did not say whether he would prefer to nominate as a Liberal in the party’s pre­selection or whether he would run as an independent, which The Australian understands he is prepared to do.

“While the last 20 months have been challenging, and a period of deep personal reflection, I am dedicated to continuing to serve the people of Waite,” he said.

Premier Steven Marshall has made no secret of his disregard for Mr Duluk, saying previously he could see “no way” he could rejoin the Liberal Party given the way he conducted himself at the party and when he was less than candid with him about what transpired.

However, conservative backers of Mr Duluk went public on Tuesday, demanding his immediate return to the government benches. Mr Duluk has the support of federal MPs Nicolle Flint, senator Alex Antic and Right faction leader Tony Pasin, who ­issued a statement on their behalf.

“The acquittal of Sam Duluk is a reminder to everyone that rushing to judgment in the absence of all the facts is a dangerous ­approach,” Mr Pasin said. “I encourage the leadership of the Liberal Party to immediately lift the suspension of the member for Waite’s membership.”

Ms Bonaros issued a statement saying: “I do not want any woman or girl thinking the outcome I have experienced should stop them standing up and saying – enough! I do not want any woman or girl thinking there was no benefit in taking action. I am pleased I took this action in spite of the toll and … the verdict.”