A female MP claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted in a pub car park after a grainy Snapchat video of the incident emerged online in what she described as the ‘worst week of her life’.
Labor MP Brittany Lauga, who is Assistant Minister for Health in the Queensland state government, has identified herself as featuring in the Snapchat video taken outside a pub in the central Queensland town of Yeppoon last Saturday.
Daily Mail Australia previously reported that a female politician lodged a complaint of sexual assault after a night out last Saturday but did not name Ms Lauga, 37.
Queensland Labor MP Brittany Lauga claims she was drugged and then sexually assaulted in pub carpark
However, Ms Lauga has told News Ltd that she features in the Snapchat video of the alleged assault, which has been widely circulated to her friends and to media outlets.
Ms Lauga insists that before learning of the video, she made a police complaint and underwent a four-hour interview with them, as well as testing positive in hospital for a drug she says she did not take.
She said the video has prompted her to come forward but also feels she owes an explanation to her Yeppoon constituents as to why she is on mental health leave.
‘I watched the video,’ she said.
‘It was just an awful, awful thing to watch. You know, the following days have just been a living nightmare.
‘You wake up and you have to remind yourself this is reality.
‘I went to the police station and the hospital straight after it (the alleged assault) happened and they did forensic rape kit. They’ve done drug tests, blood, urine, everything.’
She said the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs that she ‘did not take’.
‘This substance impacted me significantly,’ she said.
Ms Lauga said a doctor told her women were drugged in Yeppoon on a weekly basis.
In the video, which was shot by bystanders across the street, Ms Lauga appears to be in intimate contact with a man in a carpark.
After the incident Ms Lauga said she could not get a taxi and had to walk home where her family came to comfort her on Sunday morning.
Ms Lauga said she collapsed in front of her brother telling him she thought she had been raped.
Video and images of the alleged incident have been circulating widely on social media, including this image. It’s unclear whether it is from the night in question
It was then she decided to go the police station and had the formal interview with them on Monday.
After the police interview and hospital testing, Ms Lauga said she went home and had a long vigorous shower and slept through the day.
Police have issued a statement saying they are investigating the matter.
‘The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is investigating a sexual assault complaint relating to an incident,’ the statement said
‘Investigations into this matter are ongoing.
‘As is routine in such investigations, no further comment will be made at this time.’
Ms Lauga told News Ltd that she did not think the video was the last of the material that could be made public.
‘I think those people have got more,’ she said.
‘It’s the worst week of my life.’
She indicated her leave period would likely extend into next week.
In response to Ms Lauga going public, Queensland Premier Steven Miles released a statement offering the full support of he and his government.
‘No one should have to go through what Brittany is going through,’ the statement said.
‘My sole focus is on Brittany and her wellbeing. I’ve told Brittany that we’re here to support her, whatever she needs.
‘This matter is currently subject to a police investigation.
‘Out of respect of her privacy, and in the interests of allowing the police to complete their investigation, it is not appropriate for me to comment any further.’
