Local police are seeking information about overseas allegations involving a Papua New Guinea minister accused of a domestic violence-related assault in Sydney.
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Jimmy Maladina, 58, is contesting allegations he attacked a 31-year-old woman in the morning of July 6 while two children were present.
Police were called to a property in the eastern Sydney suburb of Bondi when they found the woman with facial injuries.
Maladina and his high-profile barrister Margaret Cunneen appeared at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, when a hearing was set down for March.
His lawyer previously indicated he would plead not guilty to one count of domestic violence-related assault occasioning bodily harm.
While Ms Cunneen asked for an earlier date, Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson signalled that the court was under a heavy workload.
"The diary is what the diary is," she said.
The court was told Maladina had spoken twice to police in recorded interviews that would be used as evidence at the hearing.
The crown prosecutor said references had been made by the petroleum minister to other events alleged to have happened while he was in Papua New Guinea.
Police were making inquiries into those allegations, he told the court.
Ms Atkinson also heard that two children were in the Bondi unit at the time of the alleged assault and they might be called to give evidence.
The woman's barrister, Michael Lowe, agreed to vary an interim AVO taken out against Maladina to allow the politician to contact the alleged victim.
Neither Ms Cunneen nor Maladina spoke to reporters as they left the court.
The PNG minister stepped down from his government role earlier in July while the case was before the courts.
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Australian Associated Press
