CCTV footage emerges of the moment Labor MP Les Walker is knocked unconscious in Townsville pub


Wild moment an MP is knocked out in a pub brawl on his birthday as a one-punch hit from a stranger leaves him sprawled on the ground

  • Queensland state MP Les Walker was knocked unconscious at a Townsville pub 
  • He was out celebrating his birthday when a man approached and touched him 
  • Mr Walker then pushed the man several times before he was punched to ground 
  • The Labor MP has ‘no memory’ of the incident, which saw him fined $800

Extraordinary footage has emerged of the moment a Labor MP was knocked unconscious during a wild pub brawl.

Les Walker was celebrating his birthday at the Mad Cow Tavern in Townsville, north Queensland, when the dramatic incident unfolded in the early hours of January 16. 

The Mundingburra state MP was standing at a table with his wife and a group of friends when a young man approached and appeared to pinch one of his nipples. 

Mr Walker was captured on CCTV obtained by the Courier Mail defending himself by pushing the man several times after he retreated. The young man’s mate, who was standing nearby, then stepped in and punched Mr Walker. 

The 56-year-old was left lying unconscious on the floor, with his wife, friends and a security guard rushing to his aid.

Dramatic CCTV footage has emerged of the moment Labor MP Les Walker was knocked unconscious inside a Townsville pub while celebrating his birthday

Dramatic CCTV footage has emerged of the moment Labor MP Les Walker was knocked unconscious inside a Townsville pub while celebrating his birthday

Mr Walker was captured on CCTV pushing a young man several times after appearing to have his nipples pinched, before the youngster's mate punched him

Mr Walker was captured on CCTV pushing a young man several times after appearing to have his nipples pinched, before the youngster’s mate punched him

Mr Walker was helped to his feet before being taken to hospital for treatment. The two men, aged 19 and 21, fled the scene.  

He told the Courier Mail he had ‘no memory’ of the altercation, had not been shown the footage by police and did not know the two men involved in the melee. 

‘I’m struggling. I’m sorry, I just can’t remember it. It was a pretty bad concussion,’ Mr Walker said. 

‘It’s just been tormenting. I don’t know who they are. They know who I am. And I don’t if I’m going to bump into them or if I have spoken to them.’ 

Mr Walker said he, his wife and group of friends were ‘minding our own business’ at the time and declared he was ‘not a violent person’. 

‘We felt we weren’t interacting with anybody. It’s hard when you read things in the paper about what’s happened and you don’t know if it’s true or false,’ he said. 

Mr Walker (pictured) was issued with an $800 public nuisance infringement notice and banned from Townsville's Safe Night Precinct for 10 days, along with the two men

Mr Walker (pictured) was issued with an $800 public nuisance infringement notice and banned from Townsville’s Safe Night Precinct for 10 days, along with the two men 

The incident took place the the Mad Cow Tavern (pictured) in Townsville in the early hours of January 16

The incident took place the the Mad Cow Tavern (pictured) in Townsville in the early hours of January 16

Police issued all three men with $800 public nuisance infringement notices and banned them from Townsville’s Safe Night Precinct for 10 days. 

Following the incident, Mr Walker apologised and promised not to get up to anymore mischief, declaring ‘it won’t happen again’.    

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the time said she had accepted Mr Walker’s apology over the incident and indicated he will not face disciplinary action.

‘He has apologised to me and I have accepted his apology. He will also apologise to his community,’ she said. 

Mr Walker, a former corrections officer, was elected to Queensland’s Parliament at the October 2020 election.  

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