Former ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay faces seven additional charges, primarily involving alleged child abuse, following his initial charge of grooming a teenage boy last year. The 61-year-old now faces a total of eight charges covering an alleged period from 2022 to 2025. He remains on bail and has entered a not guilty plea to the original grooming charge.
What are the new charges against Gordon Ramsay?
According to court documents and reports from Region, the new charges were presented at the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 16 June. While these specific allegations were not read aloud in court, they include three counts of using a carriage service for child abuse material and two counts of committing an act of indecency on a young person under special care. Additionally, Mr. Ramsay faces single counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material via a carriage service and using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend. These charges relate to the same teenage boy involved in the initial grooming accusation, which dates back to between 2022 and 2024.
Why the legal matter is moving to the Supreme Court
The progression of the case is significant due to the nature of the new allegations. During the 16 June hearing, Magistrate Jane Campbell noted that some of the new charges are indictable. Under ACT law, indictable offenses must be processed in the ACT Supreme Court rather than the Magistrates Court. Mr. Ramsay’s legal representative, Michael Kukulies-Smith of Kamy Saeedi Law, requested a four-week adjournment to review the new charges, noting that the timeframe for the additional allegations differs from the original grooming charge. The matter is now adjourned until 15 July.
What happens next in the legal proceedings?
With the case adjourned until 15 July, the defense is expected to finalize its review of the expanded charge sheet. Because the proceedings now involve indictable charges, the case may be committed to the ACT Supreme Court for trial. Mr. Ramsay, who did not attend court in person on 16 June, is expected to continue his bail conditions as the legal process moves through the next phase of pre-trial assessment.
If this story has raised any concerns, 1800RESPECT is available 24/7 on 1800 737 732. Support is also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (02 6247 2525), the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT (02 6280 0900), Sexual Violence Legal Services (6257 4377), or Lifeline (13 11 14). In an emergency, call 000.
