Facing aggravated assault charges he has denied, member for MacKillop Nick McBride says he is “chafing at the bit, desperate,” and “can’t wait to get to the court” to tell his side of the story.

In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with The [Naracoorte] News, Mr McBride asked voters for a “leap of faith,” urging the electorate to uphold the Australian Constitution and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

“It’s all one side of the story and my time will come,” he says, as he confirms he will continue as MP and contest the March 2026 state election.

McBride speaks in this Q&A:

The [Naracoorte] News: How are you personally and professionally at this moment and where do things stand for you right now?

Mr McBride: A bit of a tough journey over the last couple of weeks. I think that I’ve got through the worst of it all. I’m feeling positive and upbeat about the process in front of me and towards the 2026 March election. I’m also looking forward to … the election process, the working in the electorate, working with the people, being a strong advocate, talking about all the things that (I have) tried to achieve, and basically just respectfully working through whatever I have to, not only in that professional, political role, but also any sort of new type of processes that I have got to adhere to because of what’s happened over the last couple of weeks as well. I hope that those processes and my ambition and determination towards March (state election), can work in a collaborative and parallel fashion as best as I can make it.

The [Naracoorte] News: You’re facing aggravated assault charges, which you have denied. What can you tell the public about the nature of these allegations, and obviously being within the limits of the legal process – what’s going on?

Mr McBride: So, in the background, and this is a high-level matter about my life, and you know, I am not poking a bear or pointing a finger at anything or anyone. There is a separation between my ex-wife and divorce. And this has been ongoing for the last two to three years. And then, then there’s now these court issues, which really, I cannot give a lot of details about. Detail that really needs to go before the court. And what I’m really probably looking at are two things – one is I can’t wait to get to court to have my side of the story heard and understood and secondly, I’m hoping people will give me the benefit of the doubt as best they can and not jump to conclusions that, you know, you could potentially say, well, because of what’s been going on in the last two weeks, and because there’s the intervention orders, that I’m definitely done and I shouldn’t be here. In these processes, I haven’t been able to give account for my side of the story yet, and that is just how the process is.

The [Naracoorte] News: Regardless of the court’s outcome, do you accept that serious criminal charges against a sitting MP raise legitimate concerns about public trust and confidence in leadership?

Mr McBride: I have to say yes. I can understand why you’ve asked the question and where you’re coming from, and it is a valid question and that’s even slightly a statement. But I would say that this is a personal issue. It’s a marriage with two adult children, of nearly 30 years long, and then the relationship longer in total, and it is understood that I have the trust by the community over last five to six years until this all sort of started to unwind in a way and fashion that I would have loved to have avoided, and I do understand too that trust has to be earned. I’m hoping that the community will recognise … all the work that I have done, that I belong to a farming family of many and multiple generations, and because there’s been some changes out there, perhaps the areas that I have been caught up in making it a little bit harder than it used to be … to protect those victims that need it. I saw this when I was in jail, like inmates being caught up with these new laws, and they’re all waiting for their day in court, and it is a process – the court system that my electorate would know is not a speedy process. All I can say is, I’m really chafing (at the) bit, desperate, and would love, and can’t wait to get to the court to have my time explaining what’s going on. And I suppose I’m asking for that leap of faith, that I hope the electorate will understand the Australian constitution and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

The [Naracoorte] News: Being on bail now, what are the limitations on how you carry out your duties as the member for MacKillop that the constituents should be aware of?

Mr McBride: I am being monitored. I have a case manager. I am working with Corrections… I’ve seen what the restrictions are now and allow me to do my job. It allows me to travel around and be in the working environment. I’m actually hoping that over time that with the way that I go about it, and that I’m open, and transparent, do my job properly, and lucky enough to win the election, and get around and be a good member and representative for MacKillop. On top of that, we know that we’ve got Teams (Microsoft Teams) meetings, social media, and my office is always a gateway to representation, getting the message out, and plus the fact that it’s a big electorate. I do a lot of travelling, and I’m hoping and my understanding is that the travel that I used to do shouldn’t be inhibited much at all.

The [Naracoorte] News: What does your diary, and your plans look like as far as campaign is concerned in the next few months?

Mr McBride: We understand about the major events and what goes on. I think my diary is very much colour coded – green is like going to the green light, yellow is slight caution where I haven’t been totally locked in or out, and blue is like, no, you are not going there Nick. So, my diary has got a lot of green, and I don’t believe my diary is going to change much – that green is always going to be there, and that’s advocacy, travelling, being seen in the electorate, and I believe that that diary will now have to be shared as much as possible with my case manager and Corrections.

The [Naracoorte] News: Many constituents and commentators have said that you should step aside at least temporarily. What do you think of this, and did you consider this?

Mr McBride: I think I’m so vested in (the) busy life that I have. This has always been a massive test of character and resilience and my commitment – and I have to say it’s there, and it is strong towards representing MacKillop… They are not blocks, they are not road gates, they are not things that can’t be got over. We’ll get over them, and I’ll do it respectfully, and I’ll work with the authorities on all aspects – that is the police, the courts, and the Corrections… And now my 10 days of experience in jail. How many MPs can say they’ve been locked up for 10 days in a jail and met, worked, and talked with the inmates and worked with the officers and the guards, in a respectful fashion, that you have to do to make sure that that experience works for not only the other inmates, the guards, but for yourself as well.

The [Naracoorte] News: What do you say to the constituents who feel unsettled, disappointed, or conflicted by the situation, even if they’re reserving judgement until the legal process?

Mr McBride: I guess I’m probably going to reiterate the fact that is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty… There is a process. The police and those who uphold the law … have to go through a certain process, and that (people are) innocent until they are found guilty…that really is the cornerstone.

The [Naracoorte] News: With all the things that you’ve done for the electorate, do you believe that you have the confidence of the people and will they vote for you? Yes or no?

Mr McBride: Yes.

The [Naracoorte] News: You’ve spoken about the impact of media and public scrutiny. Do you believe the system has failed you in some way?

Mr McBride: I am not in the position to question the process and those involved. That is for SAPOL, courts, and now Corrections – the home detention process. What it is now for me to do is to work through the process like any other community members have to do. What I would really like to say, and I think the people will find it exciting – is it, the process that has let me down and could let anyone else down, … that the public out there would give me the opportunity to prove that’s the case, and then I can go to the Parliament and say introduce new laws and restrictions that changes the system. But I should respectfully and in the right way work with the attorney general and the premier of the day – they have some really good intentions to protect the victims of domestic violence. I understand that. But, sometimes with the best of intentions, there can also be consequences.

The [Naracoorte] News: With everything going on, what are some of the lessons you have taken from this phase?

Mr McBride: I have spoken to my staff about this. The staff said people who are weak would have jumped off the trail a long time ago. I think it’s been clearly pointed out to me with this question that my determination and resilience must be huge to be through what I have been through, and then say I still want to do what I want to do. I still have a story to tell here, and I (have) still got representation to make. And with all the right reasons, not mischievous, not with other investments, dodgy sort of thoughts … it’s actually to do the greatest things. And I think that greater good for MacKillop constituents, it’s as strong as ever, and that the determination hasn’t wavered.

The [Naracoorte] News: Is there anything you’d like to say directly to the people of MacKillop?

Mr McBride: I ask … the people of MacKillop for their support, understanding, and I hope they see that I’ve got a lot to offer and still need to do. I hope they see MacKillop being in the hands of an independent that can work with a new government. A new March 2026 government and term, that we – the constituents and I can work with, and the advocacy that we can do like never before for the region. Even in the time of my turbulence, there’s opportunity for greater good and greater change, and I hope that the electorate will see that. 

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 21 January 2026.