The ex-partner of former prime minister Julia Gillard is set to plead guilty to a sexual assault.
Timothy Raymond Mathieson – known during Ms Gillard’s reign as Australia’s ‘first bloke’ – appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via videolink where his barrister indicated he would plead guilty to a single sex offence charge.
The full details of that sexual assault remain unknown, with two other related charges to be withdrawn as part of an anticipated deal with prosecutors.
Australia’s then Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson in 2010
Tim Mathieson (right) has indicated he will admit to being a sex offender
Mathieson’s barrister Brad Penno told the court his client would plead at his next appearance if prosecutors went through with its plans to withdraw the other charges.
‘It is resolvable on the basis Mr Mathieson will plead guilty to charge one on the basis that charges two and three be withdrawn,’ he said.
‘If that’s accurate I’d expect the prosecution to make an application along those lines,’ he said.
Mr Penno said he hoped to have Mathieson dealt with via the court’s diversion program.
Under Victorian law, diversion plans are often handed down to first-time offenders and are designed not to impact on a person’s life going forward.
Under the diversion plan, Mathieson would not be required to formally plead to the charges and instead simply made admissions to the charged offences.
‘If the diversion is on the table it would need to return to a diversion hearing,’ Mr Penno said.
A Crown Prosecutor agreed to withdraw two of the three charges on-the-spot, but would not commit to supporting Mathieson’s request to be dealt with via diversion until it had been discussed with his alleged victim.
‘The short answer is … we need more time to make inquiries and come to a decision whether in fact a diversion is appropriate,’ he said.
Dressed in a suit and tie, Mathieson sat quietly behind a desk at the rear of his barrister’s office and made no comment throughout the hearing.
Mathieson lived with Ms Gillard in the Lodge in Canberra when she was Prime Minister, but Gillard revealed in early 2022 that the couple had split up some time earlier.
Timothy Raymond Mathieson, left, was once a hairdresser
Mr Penno said he was happy to have prosecutors speak to the alleged victim with a view to bring the matter back to court next month.
The barrister made no objection to the single remaining charge sheet outlining basic details of the alleged offence being released to the media.
Should the matter not be dealt with via diversion, Mathieson would be forced to enter a formal plea, which could result in him being convicted of the crime and face a far more severe penalty.
Mathieson had been a hairdresser when he hooked-up with Ms Gillard in 2004.
He has three children, with daughter Sherri Mathieson once appearing on television reality show The Bachelor.
Mathieson become a reluctant public figure during his early relationship with the former PM.
He remained largely out of the spotlight, with reports emerging that he liked to cook at home for his busy partner.
That the couple were unmarried added to the challenge Ms Gillard faced at the time.
Tim Mathieson and Julia Gillard in happier times.
In 2008, then Health Minister Nicola Roxon included Mathieson in a group of prominent men appointed health ambassadors.
He stated in an interview, ‘I’ve always had this thing that men didn’t talk about their health enough’.
The couple moved into the prime ministerial residence, The Lodge, in September 2010, and retained Ms Gillard’s Altona house in her electorate.
Mr Mathieson frequently accompanied the Prime Minister on engagements within Australia and on her official overseas trips.
During his time as prime ministerial spouse, Mathieson undertook voluntary work for Kidney Health Australia, Indigenous Diabetes Association and mental health group Beyond Blue.
He was also patron of the Australian Men’s Shed Association, dedicated to encouraging men to meet and discuss problems in a comfortable environment.