Politics

Labor MP Will Fowles admits drug addiction after violent hotel incident

Jul 25, 2019

Will Fowles will take a month of paid leave for treatment after smashing in a door at a Canberra hotel in an angry outburst. Source: Facebook/ Will Fowles MP and Twitter/ Kellie Sloane.

A Victorian politician who was questioned by police after smashing a hotel door in a ‘fit of rage’ has spoken out to apologise, insisting he’s “deeply ashamed” about the incident – before blaming it on addiction and mental health issues.

Burwood MP Will Fowles became embroiled in a row with staff at Abode Hotel in Kingston, Canberra, on Thursday morning, before being escorted out and quizzed by police.

He has now revealed it happened following a battle with drug and alcohol addiction, which he’s recently undertaken a course to try to combat.

“What happened is unacceptable. I am deeply ashamed of my actions,” Fowles said in a statement, which was widely shared online.

“While there are reasons for it, there are no excuses. I have, for a long time, been dealing with addiction and other mental health issues.

Statement from @willfowles pic.twitter.com/1nYEgCuc8D

— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) July 25, 2019

“Medication I take was in my luggage, which was locked in a room that I was not able to access, as no staff were on-site,” he added.

Fowles went on to say he will pay for the damage he caused and recently underwent a drugs and alcohol course.

“(I) will now get the treatment I need to become a better person. I have let myself down and badly let down those who have supported me’,” he added.

Photos of a smashed in door were shared online after the incident and, sharing details of the events as they unfolded in Canberra, Life Education NSW Chief Executive Kellie Sloane said shortly afterwards that a politician went into a “rage” with staff over his bags.

“So here’s the latest,” she wrote on Twitter alongside the photo. “A politician ( I don’t know who) has gone into a rage after discovering he couldn’t access his luggage. Police say he’s now calmed down but is facing charges.”

So here’s the latest. A politician (I don’t know who) has gone into a rage after discovering he couldn’t access his luggage. Police say he’s now calmed down but is facing charges. pic.twitter.com/VRKu5p2s2t

— Kellie Sloane MP – Member for Vaucluse (@kelliesloane) July 24, 2019

Sloane continued to update followers on the incident as she apparently waited outside the hotel with other guests while police dealt with the matter.

“I’m listening to police talking to manager about whether it’s necessary to charge him,” she wrote.

“The situation was serious enough that guests including me were unable to enter the hotel for a while – and were outfit in -2. The first lot of police described him as ‘a piece of work’ who wouldn’t calm down. But they now say he is calm and being very reasonable.”

Later Sloane spoke to 3AW about the incident explaining she had returned to the hotel at about 7.30am on Thursday morning to go get a coffee and was told by security she couldn’t enter.

“(They said) there was a big due going nuts and having a meltdown because he couldn’t reach his luggage, it was a room behind reception and reception wasn’t open,” she said.

“They guy had bashed down half the door to get in.”

ACT Police confirmed there was an incident at the hotel on Thursday morning, explaining in a statement that they received a report of disturbance at the facility at around 7.50am.

“At this time, no charges have been laid,” an ACT policing spokesperson said. “Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident in consultation with the business owners.”