Tim Mathieson, the former partner of ex-prime minister Julia Gillard is expected to plead guilty to a charge of sexual assault.
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00:00 Well, Mr Matheson appeared in this very brief hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court
00:06 to deal with three charges which have been laid by Victoria Police's Sexual Offences
00:11 Investigation Unit.
00:12 Now, Mr Matheson appeared via video link with his lawyer wearing a suit and tie and his
00:17 lawyer told the court that Mr Matheson would be willing to plead guilty to one of those
00:22 three charges, a charge of sexual assault, if the other two charges were withdrawn.
00:27 Prosecutors indicated they would agree to that and so the magistrate struck out those
00:31 two charges.
00:32 Now, as I mentioned, it was a very brief hearing so we didn't get any more detail on those
00:37 charges or what the two dropped charges were either.
00:40 So what happens next then, Joseph?
00:43 So Mr Matheson's lawyer asked the court to consider a diversion order.
00:46 So that's an option that's available that can, for offenders, means they won't receive
00:52 a criminal record, provided they undertake a series of conditions which are aimed at
00:56 benefiting the community and rehabilitating them.
00:59 So now police will take some time to speak to the complainant in this case and to form
01:04 their own view about whether a diversion order is appropriate here.
01:07 Any diversion order would need to be signed off on by a magistrate.
01:11 So to give them some time to do all of that, the case has been adjourned and it's expected
01:14 back in court at the end of August.
01:16 [BLANK_AUDIO]