Kiama voters chose Gareth Ward after he was charged. This is how they feel now
Now, after Ward was found guilty on Friday of serious sexual offences involving two young men, the community that decided to give the former Liberal minister the benefit of the doubt has declared he must resign.
'The court has made its decision and proven that he's guilty,' retiree Tristan Lazare said on Tuesday. 'He's hurt people. Those scars will last a lifetime.'
The 75-year-old's comments were echoed in more emphatic terms by teacher Alecia Zoccoli.
'He absolutely should resign,' she said. 'Anyone with a sketchy idea of right and wrong shouldn't be a member of parliament.'
Ward, elected in 2011, has so far refused to quit despite pressure from Premier Chris Minns and Liberal leader Mark Speakman to go.
Under the NSW parliament's Constitution, an MP convicted of a crime punishable with a prison term of more than five years will have their seat vacated, although the process will be put on hold pending an appeal.
Ward will almost certainly be expelled, potentially as soon as early next week, after the government and opposition indicated they would support a motion to do so. On Wednesday, the Crown will seek a detention application, potentially putting Ward behind bars.
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West Australian
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Kiama MP Gareth Ward to fight expulsion attempt by Labor government in Supreme Court
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Judgement Day for rapist MP's expulsion
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