But police not not ruled out bringing him to court. In a statement published on Thursday afternoon, the MP apologised to staff at the hotel, his family and constituents, saying he was deeply ashamed of his conduct and would take a leave of absence. Mr Fowles was questioned after officers were called to the Abode Hotel where the Burwood MP had a disagreement with staff over access to his luggage. "What happened is unacceptable," he said in his statement

"I am deeply ashamed of my actions. "While there are reasons for it, there are no excuses. Will Fowles with Premier Daniel Andrews. in Wattle Park last year. "I have, for a long time, been dealing with addiction and other mental health issues. "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.

"I will, of course, pay for all damages." Mr Andrews said Mr Fowles had behaved inappropriately but he had apologised and "I believe he's sincere". Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "He's also indicated he has addiction issues. He has my full support as he gets the treatment and care that he needs," Mr Andrews said. Senior Labor sources have told The Age that Mr Fowles was advised during his first week as an MP to "tone down" his behaviour, after his conduct at Labor's post-election party in November raised eyebrows.

Photographs from the Abode Hotel show a door with substantial damage and indicate it might have been kicked in. ACT police say they are still investigating after being called to the Abode about 7.50am, with officers who were on patrol nearby resolving the incident without taking anyone into custody. Damage to the Abode Hotel in the Canberra suburb of Kingston. Credit:Kellie Sloan/Twitter Patrons of the hotel say they were kept outside for some time while police investigated the incident. One witness said they overheard a security guard calling for assistance and raised voices between Mr Fowles and the security guard.

Hotel guest Kellie Sloane was among those evacuated from the building. "He told the security guard he couldn't access his luggage, he needed his luggage because he had a 9am flight, so he bashed the door down," she told reporters. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The newly elected Labor MP was in the capital, on what he says was a privately-funded trip, to support new federal MP and Jagajaga representative Kate Thwaites as she gave her first speech on Wednesday evening. Mr Fowles, 40, was seen at celebratory drinks in Parliament House following Victorian senator Raff Ciccone's firstspeech, which was also attended by senior Labor members including Penny Wong, Ed Husic and Kimberley Kitching.

During his time on the high-profile MCC committee, the ebullient Mr Fowles was variously described as "a bit of a ham" and "boisterous". Victorian Labor MP Will Fowles. Victoria's opposition was quick to call for Mr Fowles' sacking from the Labor caucus, with Liberal frontbencher Tim Smith saying the MP was a "buffoon" and the incident left Mr Andrews with a series of questions to answer. "I would describe Will Fowles as a buffoon and his behaviour in Canberra has indicated he is someone who is unfit for public office," Mr Smith said. "Will Daniel Andrews stick by his factional ally and ensure that he remains the Labor MP for Burwood or will he cut him adrift because his behaviour has breached community expectations?"

Mr Fowles, who was educated at Melbourne's exclusive Scotch College, is a member of the wealthy Fowles family and was last month accused by Victorian Liberal MP James Newbury of failing to pay workers' entitlements when his former Queensland pub went into receivership in 2015. Loading He has also worked in communications, and was best known for nabbing a seat on the exclusive Melbourne Cricket Club committee as the youngest member in history. If property damage is valued at less than $5000, the maximum jail sentence in the ACT is two years, well below the five-year threshold that would see Mr Fowles removed from the Victorian Parliament if convicted. But if the property damage exceeds $5000, the MP could be charged under the territory's criminal code with a maximum sentence of 10 years.