Former ACT politician unlikely to face grooming trial before mid-2027 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Former ACT attorney-general Gordon Ramsay (right) is facing charges including committing acts of indecency on a person under special care. (ABC News: Mark Moore)
Gordon Ramsay, a former ACT Labor politician, was last year charged with grooming a teenager.
Mr Ramsay has been committed to face trial in the ACT Supreme Court after indicating he will plead not guilty.
The court heard today a trial is unlikely to take place before mid-2027.
Former ACT attorney-general Gordon Ramsay will likely not face trial before the middle of next year, after he was accused of grooming and soliciting child exploitation material from a teenage boy.
Mr Ramsay was arrested in October last year, charged with grooming a young person.
Earlier this year, the former Labor politician was accused of seven additional offences including committing acts of indecency on a person under special care, as well as possessing and soliciting child abuse material between 2022 and 2025.
Court documents released after his arrest alleged Mr Ramsay began communicating with the teen on Instagram and bought him dinners, alcohol and clothes, telling him he was "very special".
It is alleged Mr Ramsay then began suggesting the boy send him photos he referred to as "SPUN" images, which related to the removal of clothing.
In July, Mr Ramsay was committed to face trial in the ACT Supreme Court and at an arraignment hearing today he again pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The court heard there would be several pre-trial applications, including from Mr Ramsay's defence on whether evidence obtained by a search warrant would be admissible.
Court documents allege Gordon Ramsay befriended the boy before requesting sexualised images. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said the number of matters currently before the court meant it was "extremely short of time".
A date was set in June for a criminal case conference, where the parties can negotiate and discuss matters ahead of trial.
It means the case will likely not go to trial before the middle of 2027.
