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Premier Daniel Andrews says his office is not aware of other assault allegations levelled at Will Fowles as the state Labor MP’s parliamentary future remains in doubt.
“This is the only matter that is before us,” he said. “If there had been other complaints, they would have been dealt with identically to the way we have dealt with this one. So, no, there’s been no other complaints made. I’m not aware of any other issues.”
Premier Daniel Andrews accepted the resignation of Ringwood MP Will Fowles, left, on Saturday evening. Credit: Facebook
The premier said he was informed of the complaint – which was made to his office about 5pm on Thursday – at 6pm on Friday.
By Saturday, the premier’s office had received information from a government employee that led to the referral of a “serious assault” allegation to police.
Victoria Police issued a statement on Sunday morning, acknowledging the government’s referral and adding that it had not received an official complaint.
Andrews declined to say whether the alleged incident took place within Parliament House, or whether the alleged victim was an MP or staffer, citing privacy concerns.
“That is that individual’s preference and it’s important that we honour that.”
Andrews said it was a decision for Fowles as to whether he would sit on the crossbench as an independent or resign from parliament altogether.
But he did say the government was seeking advice on what should happen to the parliament’s election review committee, which the Ringwood MP chairs.
The premier added that his initial statement on the matter was sent on Saturday night because his office only met with the alleged victim Saturday afternoon.
However, Andrews rejected any notion that he regretted giving Fowles a second chance after the MP kicked in the lower half of a hotel door in Canberra in 2019.
“I don’t think it is fair to say that anybody was on notice. The nature of this alleged incident is completely different – completely and utterly different.”
The comments come a day after the premier accepted the Ringwood MP’s resignation from the parliamentary Labor Party.
“The complainant has been and will continue to be supported and their privacy should be respected,” the premier said in a statement on Saturday.
“The wellbeing of staff and their right to a safe workplace is not negotiable.”
It’s not the first time Fowles has made headlines. In July 2019, he smashed in the lower half of a door at a Canberra hotel following an altercation with staff over access to his luggage. He later apologised, pledged to pay for the damage and took leave – with full pay – while seeking treatment for drug and alcohol issues.
At the time, the premier said Fowles had his “full support”. However, colleagues also informed the MP that no more serious incidents would be tolerated.
The now 45-year-old first joined parliament in 2018 when he won the state seat of Burwood from Liberal Graham Watt. The MP later ran for, and won, the nearby seat of Ringwood when Burwood was abolished ahead of the 2022 election.
Fowles has been the chair of parliament’s electoral matters committee since February. He has not commented publicly about his resignation from the parliamentary Labor party, which will result in a shift to the crossbench, or on the allegation that has been referred to police.
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