MP put his hands down teen's pants, court told
The second complainant in Ward's trial said he felt compelled to remain 'Gareth's bro' in the years that followed, exchanging 'cringe' and 'degrading' messages to remain in the good graces of the Young Liberals.
Ward has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent against a man who was 24 at the time, as well as three counts of assault with an act of indecency involving the then 18-year-old man, and an alternate charge of common assault against the younger man.
Ward, the MP for Kiama, met the teenager at an event in late 2012. The following year Ward allegedly paid for a taxi to collect the 18-year-old from a party, to bring him to the MP's Meroo Meadow home south of Wollongong so he could comfort the teenager about his girlfriend.
The complainant told the court Ward had 'fixed us drinks' before they moved outside where the boy pretended to pass out on the grass as a prank.
Ward rushed to his side, the complainant told the court on Wednesday, as he lay on the grass.
'I thought this prank is going well, I got him,' the complainant said.
'He put his hand down my pants, I felt his hand go onto my buttocks. I basically froze. I went from being in a bad mood earlier in the night to being very positive, fun, joking with Gareth.'
The complainant said Ward's hand moved around to the front of his shorts, touched his thigh and then brushed his genitals.
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Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
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Disgraced former MP Gareth Ward still posting online
Rapist Gareth Ward tried every last trick in the book to keep representing the confused voters of Kiama from a prison cell. Ward, who was last month found guilty of one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault against two young men, fully intended to stay on as an MP, fighting attempts to expel him from parliament in the NSW Supreme Court. When the Court of Appeal rejected Ward's last-ditch attempt to stay on, the former MP resigned hours before parliament was set to formally expel him last week, all from the comfort of his cell in Cessnock, where he is being held before a sentencing hearing next month. Despite the former MP being behind bars, Ward's Facebook page, taken down after his conviction, is back online, featuring a profile picture taken during the trial which shows him posing outside the Sydney courtroom that would later decide his fate, and cheerily waving his Akubra at the cameras. To pretty much anyone outside a cluster of towns on the South Coast, it remains a mystery how Ward was returned to parliament as an independent at the 2023 election while facing serious criminal charges that would later lead to conviction. That Facebook page provided some clues, documenting Ward's constant presence at just about every community event and relentless courting of local organisations, particularly those popular among older voters. His last post was three days before a jury convicted him. Rumours of the return of Oz are greatly exaggerated It is the perennial challenge for any media organisation in 2025 – get the youth to watch, read, subscribe and, God forbid, pay for the news.
The Advertiser
16 hours ago
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"By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. 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"By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions. An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions.
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Perth Now
Leaders tested as gun fired in race for seaside seat
An unusual by-election is looming as the first real test of an opposition leader's ambitions to become premier of his state. NSW Labor on Thursday confirmed former journalist and union official Katelin McInerney as its candidate bidding to win the coastal seat of Kiama on September 13 and inch the party closer to majority government. But the by-election, triggered by former MP Gareth Ward being jailed for rape, has heralded the first test of the Liberal leader Mark Speakman's electoral chops. Mr Speakman will hope to stave off internal challengers by winning over voters who backed Ward in 2023 after he was banished from the party. Five by-elections have been held since the last election but Kiama is the first true Liberal-Labor battle, election analyst Ben Raue told AAP. "Speakman has struggled to break through and so there could be implications for him, in terms of his leadership if they don't do well," Mr Raue said. "By-elections, historically, have often been triggers for changes in party leadership." The importance Labor is placing on the contest was reflected by Thursday's visit to the seat by Premier Chris Minns. He unveiled Ms McInerney, a Kiama local, as the candidate trusted by party officials to turn the former safe seat red for the first time since 2011. Ward edged out Ms McInerney by fewer than 700 votes in 2023 but a large swing to Labor in upper house polling places it in the box seat to win it back. The government has not run a candidate in any other by-election since 2023. "We're nervous about the by-election, but we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks," the premier said. The police investigation into Ward sparked his exit from the Liberal Party in 2021 and his suspension from parliament in 2022, before voters re-elected the charged man in 2023. "The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years ... people are telling me they want a strong voice in parliament," Ms McInerney said. Mr Raue said electoral baggage from Ward's status as a long-time Liberal MP would likely harm the opposition's chances. Mr Speakman downplayed his party's chances ahead of unveiling the Liberal candidate on Friday. The Liberals ran a candidate in 2023, but garnered only one in eight votes with many local branch members refusing to try to dislodge the incumbent Ward. "I'm prepared to take the fight up to the government and, more importantly, to give the people of Kiama a choice," Mr Speakman told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday. Ward is in prison awaiting sentencing for offences including sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a parliamentary event in 2015. He was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man in 2013. Ward intends to appeal his convictions.
