UPDATED: NT Police have arrested and now charged Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling in relation to the alleged assault of NT Administrator David Connolly.

The NT Independent understands police attended Mr Gosling’s home on Thursday morning where he was arrested and taken to the Palmerston Watchhouse for questioning.

Police announced just after noon that Ms Gosling has now been charged with two counts of Assault on the Administrator and was bailed to appear at the Darwin Local Court on September 1.

Mr Gosling said in a public statement that he was “cooperating fully with [police] inquiries” and has previously denied assaulting the Administrator.

He provided no comment to reporters at the watchhouse upon his release, however his lawyer Marty Aust raised concerns the matter has been politicised.

“There’s a real concern that there’s a degree of politicisation in relation to how this matter’s being handled already,” he said outside the watchhouse.

“It’s particularly concerning that the police resorted to the power of arrest when they could have dealt with this matter by way of summons or notice to appear.

“What I can say is that the charge is completely and utterly denied and will be contested.”

Police Commissioner Martin Dole has been sent questions regarding the police’s decision to arrest Mr Gosling Thursday morning at his home rather than schedule a meeting with him.

The NT Independent understands the decision to arrest would be made by the police executive team.

Police last week refused to explain why they were investigating the alleged incident instead of referring it to an independent, outside agency or bringing in independent oversight.

NT Police have been investigating Mr Gosling since last week for the alleged incident that occurred at the Thai Grand Festival in Darwin on Saturday July 18, which both he and Mr Connolly attended in their official roles.

The NT Independent understands it is alleged Mr Gosling elbowed Mr Connolly in the torso at the event at some point.

Mr Gosling was scheduled to appear at a press conference this morning with the NT CLP Government to announce the construction of a new youth hub in the Darwin northern suburbs, but was arrested before the event.

Mr Connolly’s official secretary Craig Kitchen issued an email last week that stated the matter had been referred to NT Police, but said “no further comment” would be made while the matter was under investigation.

NT Police later confirmed they were investigating “an incident involving the Administrator of the Northern Territory”.

“These are ridiculous allegations that I categorically deny,” Mr Gosling said in a media statement last Tuesday.

“I’ve had no dealings with the Administrator since congratulating him following the announcement of his appointment late last year.”

Sky News reported last week that two detectives attended Mr Connolly’s office, spending two hours taking his statement.

Mr Connolly’s appointment sparked widespread outrage in January after his long history of public and social media commentary was revealed, with his comments labelled racist, bigoted – as well as “reprehensible and offensive” by Mr Gosling and other Federal Labor politicians – targeting Aboriginal Territorians, women and transgendered people, while joking about domestic violence and date rape.

Mr Connolly also posted social media content critical of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, including a post referring to Mr Albanese as a “blue whale’s anus”.

Mr Gosling was openly critical of Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s “captain’s pick” of Mr Connolly and labelled it a “disgrace” back in February.

Mr Gosling, a former military officer, is the Federal Labor Government’s special envoy for defence and veterans’ affairs and was first elected to the seat of Solomon in 2016.

Under the NT Criminal Code, anyone found guilty of assaulting the Administrator while “engaged in the discharge of his official functions” can be imprisoned for up to 14 years.

Constitutional law expert Anne Twomey said Mr Gosling would have to be convicted of a crime carrying a penalty of more than one year imprisonment to be disqualified from federal Parliament.

She told ABC Radio Darwin that because the allegation relates to an assault against the Administrator, it is more serious.

“There are special laws that deal with assaulting the Administrator and judges, and indeed there are other laws also about interfering with the Administrator in the course of fulfilling his office,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office did not respond to questions, including if Mr Gosling would be stood down from his special envoy responsibilities while the matter proceeds through court. It said in a brief statement that “it would be inappropriate to comment” while “a legal process is underway”.