Tim Mathieson – Julia Gillard’s ex-boyfriend and Australia’s inaugural ‘first bloke’ – is charged with sexual assault

The ex-partner of former prime minister Julia Gillard is set to plead guilty to a sexual assault. 

Timothy Raymond Mathieson – known during Ms Gillard’s reign as Australia’s ‘first bloke’ – appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via videolink where his barrister indicated he would plead guilty to a single sex offence charge.

The full details of that sexual assault remain unknown, with two other related charges to be withdrawn as part of an anticipated deal with prosecutors. 

Australia’s then Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson in 2010

Mathieson’s barrister Brad Penno told the court his client would plead at his next appearance if prosecutors went through with its plans to withdraw the other charges. 

‘If that’s accurate I’d expect the prosecution to make an application along those lines,’ he said. 

Mr Penno said he hoped to have Mathieson dealt with via the court’s diversion program.  

Under Victorian law, diversion plans are often handed down to first-time offenders and are designed not to impact on a person’s life going forward.

Under the diversion plan,  Mathieson would not be required to formally plead to the charges and instead simply made admissions to the charged offences.

more to come…