Bridge protest misread creates new caucus problem for premier
Minns was referencing MPs speaking out about the bitterly divisive issue of Palestine and Israel, the catalyst for some of the most fiery debates on the floor of NSW Labor Party conferences over decades. In this instance, two of Minns' MPs had signed a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, criticising the decision to suspend payments to the main UN agency in Gaza after Israel provided intelligence that it said linked some employees to the October 7, 2023 attacks.
'I can understand people feel passionately about international affairs,' Minns told ABC's Stateline, 'but honestly, if that's your passion, and that's where your desires are, your policy interests are, well, run for federal parliament.'
Some 18 months on, Minns had better hope they do not follow his directions because 10 of them – or just shy of 20 per cent of his Labor caucus – revealed their passion/desires/interests when they took part in the pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday.
The most senior of those MPs, among at least 90,000 protesters, was the government's leader of the upper house and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe. Her attendance sent a clear message that the Left of the party can, despite Minns' instructions, walk and chew gum at the same time.
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Also on the bridge were former Labor general secretary turned upper house MP Bob Nanva, Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib and backbenchers Stephen Lawrence, Sarah Kaine, Anthony D'Adam, Lynda Voltz, Cameron Murphy, Kylie Wilkinson and Peter Primrose. Former Labor premier and long-term Palestine supporter Bob Carr joined them.
Dib, a Muslim with family ties to Palestine, was understandably motivated to be on the bridge. The others had their own motivation – and they sent a clear message to Minns that being an elected official in NSW does not preclude you from having a position on a humanitarian crisis. It also shows that the caucus Minns has ruled with an iron fist since his election as leader is willing to think for itself.
The first caucus meeting after the march, on Tuesday, was heated. MPs were angry. Before he was overruled by the Supreme Court and the protest given the greenlight, Minns said he would not tolerate shutting down the 'central artery' of Sydney, despite there being a history of that happening. (In 2007, the Harbour Bridge was closed for a full day to give US Vice-President Dick Cheney a clear ride through the city.) As is his skill, Minns played to both sides, stressing he had empathy for the plight of civilians in Gaza.
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Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," Mr King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. Mr King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive - denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election - if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, Mr King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray - who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election - told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Dr Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," Mr King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. Mr King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive - denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election - if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, Mr King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray - who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election - told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Dr Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," Mr King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. Mr King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive - denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election - if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, Mr King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray - who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election - told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Dr Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," Mr King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. Mr King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive - denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election - if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, Mr King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray - who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election - told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Dr Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
9 News
3 hours ago
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NSW MP Gareth Ward's convictions aren't enough to expel him from parliament, lawyer argues
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament under "unworthy behaviour" provisions, his lawyer has argued. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing for sexually assaulting an intoxicated political staffer after a midweek event in the state's parliament in 2015. The former families minister was also found to have sexually abused a drunken 18-year-old man at his South Coast home in 2013. Gareth Ward, 44, remains the member for the NSW seat of Kiama, as he awaits sentencing. (Dylan Coker) A Labor-led vote to expel Ward from parliament, slated for Wednesday, was delayed after the Supreme Court ordered a halt at the MP's request. His barrister told an urgent NSW Court of Appeal hearing today that a letter Ward received from the Labor government about the planned expulsion vote only referred to the convictions, and did not lay out a case for Ward's expulsion. The letter did not detail any "unworthy conduct" - the expulsion power Labor is relying on to turf Ward - Peter King told a panel of three judges. "Are you seriously submitting that the convictions of the counts ... are not conduct unworthy?" Chief Justice Andrew Bell asked. "The four counts are evidence of the fact of conviction but they're not evidence of the facts which underlie that conviction," King said. When the barrister tried again to make the same argument, Justice Jeremy Kirk chimed in. "There can't be any mystery about it, he was tried publicly on an indictment," the judge said. "He, of all people, must know what behaviour led to his conviction." Gareth Ward's lawyer argued four sex offence convictions against a sitting MP aren't enough to expel him from parliament. (AAP) Justice Kirk also questioned whether the court could do anything or interfere in the government's processes, as there had been no orders made to appeal. The most serious charge against Ward, who is in custody, carries a maximum 14-year jail term. King also argued that the move to expel Ward was punitive, denying the MP his chance to remain in parliament or go for re-election, if he successfully appealed the convictions. If Ward's appeal fails, he will be automatically expelled under a separate power. The move also denied Ward procedural fairness by denying him the chance to get up and oppose the motion in parliament, King said. "In short, he is to be expelled by a kangaroo court," he said. Four MPs have been expelled from NSW parliament, the last in 1969 under the "unworthy conduct" power. Any expulsion of Ward will trigger a by-election in the NSW south coast electorate he has held since 2011. Initially running under the Liberal banner, he secured a 2023 poll win as an independent, despite having been charged with sexual assault and suspended from parliament. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". (Nine) A vote to expel him is almost certain to pass with support from leaders of Labor and the coalition. NSW Premier Chris Minns said having an MP sitting in jail awaiting sentencing, while demanding to remain in parliament, was "an unconscionable situation". Opposition Leader Mark Speakman repeated calls for Ward to resign after the legal action prevented a parliamentary vote to expel him. Academic Tonia Gray, who contested Kiama for the Greens at the 2023 state election, told AAP Ward should vacate the seat after being found guilty. The ongoing distraction of his refusal to resign has been a disservice to the community, she said. "It's clearly not about the people of Kiama - it's all about Gareth," Gray said. "Kiama deserves an opportunity to hold a by-election and elect a new member to the NSW parliament that can give their absolute attention to the critical work of representing our community." Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) . New South Wales national Australia courts crime Politics parliament Chris Minns CONTACT US
