A Victorian Labor MP who allegedly kicked and damaged a Canberra hotel door says he will take leave to deal with health issues after apologising for his "appalling behaviour".
Burwood MP Will Fowles allegedly damaged the door at Adobe Hotel in Kingston during a dispute about his luggage as he tried to leave the hotel to return to Melbourne.
The hole in the door at Kingston's Adobe Hotel. Source: Twitter: Kellie Sloane
After apologising for the "bad mistake" in brief comments at Melbourne airport on Thursday morning, Mr Fowles issued a written statement saying he would take a leave of absence to deal with his health issues.
"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," he said.
"I have recently undertaken a course of drug and alcohol counselling and will now get the treatment I need to become a better person."
Mr Fowles said he would pay for all damages, and his trip to Canberra - where he was to attend speeches of his Victorian federal colleagues - was privately funded.
"What happened is unacceptable. I am deeply ashamed of my actions. While there are reasons for it, there are no excuses," he added.
"I have let myself down and badly let down those who have supported me."
Earlier, witness Kellie Sloane said guests were stopped from entering the hotel about 7.30am after being told it was "unsafe".
"I came back to the hotel and a security guard stopped me and said: 'You can't go in there. There's a big dude and he's going rage and he's smashed a big hole in the door and he's not out of the building."
"There's a huge gaping hole in the door."
Police were called to the hotel and questioned Mr Fowles about the dispute. In a statement, ACT police said they did not intend to lay charges at this stage.
Ms Sloane said she was told by police that Mr Fowles claimed his luggage was being unlawfully kept at the hotel.
Mr Fowles, 40, was elected to the Victorian State Parliament at last year's election.
Asked about the incident, federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese declined to comment.
