A Queensland MP has claimed she was drugged and sexually assaulted during a night out. Brittany Lauga, the assistant health minister, said in an Instagram post that she was attacked during a night out in her constituency of Yeppoon.
She said: “This could have happened to anyone, and tragically it is happening to many of us.”
The 37-year-old Australian MP went to the police and then to the hospital on April 28. Australian police have launched an investigation Telegraph reported.
“Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body that I did not take,” she said in a statement on Instagram.
The MP said the drug had a significant impact on her and that the other women had contacted her, who were also “possibly drugged”.
Ms Lauga said: “It's not OK. We should be able to enjoy socializing in our city without the risk of being drugged or attacked.”
Queensland Police told the Telegraph they are investigating a sexual assault complaint relating to an incident in Yeppoon. Police say there have been no other reports in the same area but are asking anyone with information to contact them.
Queensland Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon called the allegations “shocking” and “horrific”, Australian media reported.
“Brittany is a colleague, a friend, a young woman in the Queensland Parliament and these are truly shocking things to read,” Ms Scanlon said.
“It is unacceptable that women are disproportionately victims of domestic, family and sexual violence. Our government will continue to do everything it can to protect women and end violence.”
In recent weeks, Australia has witnessed a wave of high-profile gender-based violence.