Victorian Labor MP Will Fowles ‘distressed’ amid ‘serious assault’ claims

Will Fowles insists he is innocent of the alleged incident, which is understood to be of a sexual nature, and says he has no intention of permanently quitting parliament, or Labor.

Victorian Labor MP Will Fowles has quit after the government ‘received information … about an alleged serious assault’. Picture: Mark Stewart

Victorian state Labor MP Will Fowles says he has no intention of permanently quitting parliament or the Labor Party, despite facing a “serious” assault allegation which is understood to be of a sexual nature.

Mr Fowles insisted he was innocent of the alleged incident which reportedly took place last week.

It was raised with Daniel Andrews’s office on Thursday and made public on Saturday night, when it was revealed the Ringwood MP had handed in his resignation.

“I was shocked and distressed to learn last night that an allegation of assault has been made against me,” he said in a statement.

Twitter pictures from Kellie Sloane's account depicting the damage caused by a Will Fowles who could not access his luggage.

“The details of the claim have not been put to me. I strenuously deny any allegation of assault. It is not true.

“I was asked to stand aside as a member of the parliamentary Labor Party, a situation I expect will be temporary.”

On Sunday, the Premier said the nature of the fresh allegations levelled at Mr Fowles are much more “serious” than a 2019 episode when the politician kicked in a hotel door in Canberra.

“This is of a completely different nature to what occurred in a hotel foyer in Canberra,” he said.

“It is allegedly very much more serious.”

After the incident in July 2019, Mr Fowles said his medication had been stored in luggage that was held in a locked room of the Abode Hotel in Canberra which prompted his outburst.

At the time, Mr Andrews publicly supported the then Burwood MP. On Sunday, Mr Andrews said he did not regret it.

The Premier was personally informed about the new alleged incident on Friday about 5pm and said after his office spoke with the complainant during the weekend, it was referred to the police.

“On Thursday, a complaint was made with my office. Some inquiries were made to get the details of that. The wishes of the (alleged) victim are always foremost,” he said.

“We have not identified that person and we have not provided various information that would identify that person. That is the preference of that individual.

“Based on the information available to me, it is no longer acceptable that Mr Fowles remain a member of the parliamentary Labor Party.

“I sought and received his resignation.”

Victoria Police said they received a referral from the state government about the alleged assault, but have not received a formal complaint from the victim.

Mr Andrews said he would not discuss details of the alleged incident, including if it occurred at parliament or involved alcohol, to protect the identity of the alleged victim.

Asked if anyone witnessed the alleged incident Mr Andrews said he did “not believe so” but said “there are often things that occur in the lead up to that incident”.

“So there might have been others who were privy to conduct prior to what occurred.”

The Premier’s first statement, released late on Saturday night, reported he accepted Mr Fowles resignation from the parliamentary Labor Party.

“My office made further inquiries over Friday 4 and Saturday 5 August and has now received information from a government employee about an alleged serious assault by the Member for Ringwood,” he said.

“My office referred the matter to Victoria Police on Saturday evening.

“The complainant has been and will continue to be supported and their privacy should be respected.

“The wellbeing of staff and their right to a safe workplace is not negotiable.”

Mr Andrews said he was seeking advice over Mr Fowles’s position as chair of parliament’s election review committee.

Before he was elected as the member for Ringwood with 57.5 per cent of the two-party preferred vote at last year’s state election, Mr Fowles was elected in Burwood in 2018 before the seat was abolished in an electoral boundary redistribution in 2021.

If he leaves parliament, a by-election would be triggered in the seat of Ringwood.