Former ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay was granted bail on Thursday after he was handed a charge of grooming. Photo: Albert McKnight.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged child abuse.
UPDATED, 11 am: Former Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay has been suspended from his government role without pay due to the grooming charge.
He has worked as the CEO of the ACT’s Cultural Facilities Corporation since 2021, an ACT Government spokesperson said.
“Noting that there are current court proceedings, no further comment will be made at this time,” they said.
FRIDAY, 10 am: The ACT Government is “deeply disappointed” at the news that a former Attorney-General for the Territory was handed a charge of grooming.
On Thursday (9 October), Gordon Ramsay was granted bail after being arrested and accused of grooming a teenage boy between 2022 and 2024.
Mr Ramsay was elected as the Member for Ginninderra for Labor in 2016 and spent the next four years as the ACT’s Attorney-General, as well as serving as Arts Minister.
He spent 19 years as a minister with Kippax Uniting Church and UnitingCare Kippax before entering politics. In 2021, he became the CEO of the ACT’s Cultural Facilities Corporation.
This is a government corporation that manages the Canberra Theatre Centre, the Canberra Museum and Gallery, as well as a number of ACT historic places.
Late on Thursday night (9 October), an ACT Government spokesperson released a statement about the 61-year-old’s charge.
“We are all deeply disappointed at this news,” they said.
“A legal process is now underway.
“The public service has commenced the appropriate legal and employee support responses when charges of this nature are brought against a senior public servant.”
On Friday (10 October), the government spokesperson confirmed Mr Ramsay had been suspended from his duties at the Cultural Facilities Corporation.
“Interim acting arrangements are being put in place,” they said.
“We encourage anyone who is distressed by this reporting to reach out to support services that are available.
“If anyone has information related to the court proceedings, they should contact ACT Police.”
Police arrested Mr Ramsay earlier this week and charged him with one count of grooming a young person.
His lawyer, Michael Kukulies-Smith of Kamy Saeedi Law, said he would enter a plea of not guilty to his charge.
He was granted bail on strict conditions and his matter will return to court on 15 December.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
Well if Hastie and Price (and the worryingly dimwitted Angus Taylor thrown in there for good… View