Police in Australia have launched an investigation after Queensland MP and Deputy Health Minister Brittany Lauga alleged she was drugged and sexually assaulted.
Australian Deputy Minister Brittany Lauga said she was attacked on a night out in her constituency of Yeppoon.
“This could have happened to anyone and, tragically, it is happening to many of us,” he said.
The incident comes in the wake of protests held in response to recent violence against women.
The 37-year-old Lauga went to a police station and then to the hospital on April 28, as the BBC writes.
“Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my system, which I had not taken,” she said in a statement she posted on social media, adding that the substance had affected her “significantly.”
Lauga reportedly came into contact with other women who said they had been drugged the same night.
“It’s not okay. We should be able to enjoy socializing in our city without the risk of drugs or assault,” he said, adding that he needs time to “heal physically and emotionally.”
Police said there have been no additional reports in the same area, but are asking anyone with information or who experienced something similar to contact them.
Lauga was first elected to Keppel’s seat in 2015.
Queensland Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon called the charges “shocking” and “horrifying”, as reported by Australian media.
“Brittany is a colleague, she’s a friend, she’s a young woman in the Queensland parliament and these are really shocking things to read,” Scanlon said.
“It is unacceptable that women are disproportionately the victims of domestic, family and sexual violence. Our government will continue to do everything it can to protect women and stop violence.”
Australia has witnessed a spate of incidents of gender-based violence in recent weeks.
In April, Joel Cuachi stabbed six people to death in a Sydney shopping centre.
Five of the victims were women and the NSW police chief told Australia’s ABC News it was “obvious” he was focused on harming women.
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