'Ridiculous': Premier demands disgraced MP's resignation

The Advertiser

28-07-2025

NSW Premier Chris Minns has demanded disgraced state MP Gareth Ward resign after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two young men.
The premier told reporters on Monday it is "ridiculous" that the dumped Liberal-turned-independent for Kiama should stay as a sitting member, and that parliament must protect its integrity.
"It is completely ... ridiculous to be in a situation where someone has been, not accused, not charged, but convicted of incredibly serious sexual assault convictions and stay as a member of parliament," Mr Minns said.
"You name one workplace in the whole world where that person would continue to be an employee facing that kind of jail time."
Following a nine-week trial, Ward was found guilty last Friday of sexual intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in 2015, and three counts of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man in 2013.
The scandal-plagued MP vehemently denied the allegations since being charged in 2022.
The maximum penalty for sexual intercourse without consent is 14 years' imprisonment.
Ward was often seen smiling as he arrived and left court each day, but he left the precinct stone-faced and silent while being chased by the media scrum after the verdict. Within hours, his social media accounts were deactivated.
Mr Minns said the government had received legal advice about the Legislative Assembly being able to remove Ward from parliament, even with an appeal pending.
He said any action taken by NSW Parliament would not be punitive, but that it must protect its own integrity.
Ward, the former minister for families, communities, and disability services, remains on bail and must report to police daily as part of his conditions.
Prosecutors will apply to detain him in custody on Wednesday.
Mr Minns said many constituents would question whether a convicted sex offender would continue in their role.
"Many taxpayers, many voters, would say 'Are you really suggesting that someone who has been convicted of these incredibly serious charges continues on as a member of parliament even when they are in jail?" the premier said.
He also praised the victims and said he didn't want their "enormous courage" to get lost in a "political bun fight" over Ward's future career.
"If you speak to survivors of this kind of sexual assault, they will tell you that going through the process of reporting it to the police and then a criminal trial turns your life upside down all over again," the premier said.
"That should not be forgotten in all this."
Both men testified in court about their initial hesitation to come forward to police after grappling for years with self-blame and fear of Ward's power.
Despite the convictions, some Kiama residents, including Lyn and John Gibson, expressed their continued support for Ward on Monday.
Mrs Gibson said she would "vote for him (Ward) again tomorrow".
"We've been very supportive of him," Mr Gibson said.
Adam, who asked for his surname not to be published, said he "wasn't comfortable with someone with that sort of conviction representing the community".
He believed if Ward didn't resign, it would add "insult to the injury" of the two victims.
Lyn and John Brown, who were visiting Kiama from Wollongong, felt Ward should resign immediately.
"I feel pleased he was convicted," Mrs Brown said.
Kenneth Watson, who has previously handed out election pamphlets for Ward, said he was shocked by the verdict.
"He's done a fantastic job as a local member, better than most politicians," Mr Watson said.
A by-election will be triggered if a motion is put forward to expel Ward from parliament.
The Minns Government and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman both issued statements last Friday calling for the MP to resign, signalling that a motion put forward by the premier is likely to be supported.
A successful motion would take immediate effect and would need to be passed by the Legislative Assembly, rather than needing to pass both houses.
Without an expulsion motion, Ward would not be automatically disqualified from being an MP until the appeals process has been exhausted.
Ward will receive his sentence date on Wednesday.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has demanded disgraced state MP Gareth Ward resign after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two young men.
The premier told reporters on Monday it is "ridiculous" that the dumped Liberal-turned-independent for Kiama should stay as a sitting member, and that parliament must protect its integrity.
"It is completely ... ridiculous to be in a situation where someone has been, not accused, not charged, but convicted of incredibly serious sexual assault convictions and stay as a member of parliament," Mr Minns said.
"You name one workplace in the whole world where that person would continue to be an employee facing that kind of jail time."
Following a nine-week trial, Ward was found guilty last Friday of sexual intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in 2015, and three counts of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man in 2013.
The scandal-plagued MP vehemently denied the allegations since being charged in 2022.
The maximum penalty for sexual intercourse without consent is 14 years' imprisonment.
Ward was often seen smiling as he arrived and left court each day, but he left the precinct stone-faced and silent while being chased by the media scrum after the verdict. Within hours, his social media accounts were deactivated.
Mr Minns said the government had received legal advice about the Legislative Assembly being able to remove Ward from parliament, even with an appeal pending.
He said any action taken by NSW Parliament would not be punitive, but that it must protect its own integrity.
Ward, the former minister for families, communities, and disability services, remains on bail and must report to police daily as part of his conditions.
Prosecutors will apply to detain him in custody on Wednesday.
Mr Minns said many constituents would question whether a convicted sex offender would continue in their role.
"Many taxpayers, many voters, would say 'Are you really suggesting that someone who has been convicted of these incredibly serious charges continues on as a member of parliament even when they are in jail?" the premier said.
He also praised the victims and said he didn't want their "enormous courage" to get lost in a "political bun fight" over Ward's future career.
"If you speak to survivors of this kind of sexual assault, they will tell you that going through the process of reporting it to the police and then a criminal trial turns your life upside down all over again," the premier said.
"That should not be forgotten in all this."
Both men testified in court about their initial hesitation to come forward to police after grappling for years with self-blame and fear of Ward's power.
Despite the convictions, some Kiama residents, including Lyn and John Gibson, expressed their continued support for Ward on Monday.
Mrs Gibson said she would "vote for him (Ward) again tomorrow".
"We've been very supportive of him," Mr Gibson said.
Adam, who asked for his surname not to be published, said he "wasn't comfortable with someone with that sort of conviction representing the community".
He believed if Ward didn't resign, it would add "insult to the injury" of the two victims.
Lyn and John Brown, who were visiting Kiama from Wollongong, felt Ward should resign immediately.
"I feel pleased he was convicted," Mrs Brown said.
Kenneth Watson, who has previously handed out election pamphlets for Ward, said he was shocked by the verdict.
"He's done a fantastic job as a local member, better than most politicians," Mr Watson said.
A by-election will be triggered if a motion is put forward to expel Ward from parliament.
The Minns Government and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman both issued statements last Friday calling for the MP to resign, signalling that a motion put forward by the premier is likely to be supported.
A successful motion would take immediate effect and would need to be passed by the Legislative Assembly, rather than needing to pass both houses.
Without an expulsion motion, Ward would not be automatically disqualified from being an MP until the appeals process has been exhausted.
Ward will receive his sentence date on Wednesday.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has demanded disgraced state MP Gareth Ward resign after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two young men.
The premier told reporters on Monday it is "ridiculous" that the dumped Liberal-turned-independent for Kiama should stay as a sitting member, and that parliament must protect its integrity.
"It is completely ... ridiculous to be in a situation where someone has been, not accused, not charged, but convicted of incredibly serious sexual assault convictions and stay as a member of parliament," Mr Minns said.
"You name one workplace in the whole world where that person would continue to be an employee facing that kind of jail time."
Following a nine-week trial, Ward was found guilty last Friday of sexual intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in 2015, and three counts of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man in 2013.
The scandal-plagued MP vehemently denied the allegations since being charged in 2022.
The maximum penalty for sexual intercourse without consent is 14 years' imprisonment.
Ward was often seen smiling as he arrived and left court each day, but he left the precinct stone-faced and silent while being chased by the media scrum after the verdict. Within hours, his social media accounts were deactivated.
Mr Minns said the government had received legal advice about the Legislative Assembly being able to remove Ward from parliament, even with an appeal pending.
He said any action taken by NSW Parliament would not be punitive, but that it must protect its own integrity.
Ward, the former minister for families, communities, and disability services, remains on bail and must report to police daily as part of his conditions.
Prosecutors will apply to detain him in custody on Wednesday.
Mr Minns said many constituents would question whether a convicted sex offender would continue in their role.
"Many taxpayers, many voters, would say 'Are you really suggesting that someone who has been convicted of these incredibly serious charges continues on as a member of parliament even when they are in jail?" the premier said.
He also praised the victims and said he didn't want their "enormous courage" to get lost in a "political bun fight" over Ward's future career.
"If you speak to survivors of this kind of sexual assault, they will tell you that going through the process of reporting it to the police and then a criminal trial turns your life upside down all over again," the premier said.
"That should not be forgotten in all this."
Both men testified in court about their initial hesitation to come forward to police after grappling for years with self-blame and fear of Ward's power.
Despite the convictions, some Kiama residents, including Lyn and John Gibson, expressed their continued support for Ward on Monday.
Mrs Gibson said she would "vote for him (Ward) again tomorrow".
"We've been very supportive of him," Mr Gibson said.
Adam, who asked for his surname not to be published, said he "wasn't comfortable with someone with that sort of conviction representing the community".
He believed if Ward didn't resign, it would add "insult to the injury" of the two victims.
Lyn and John Brown, who were visiting Kiama from Wollongong, felt Ward should resign immediately.
"I feel pleased he was convicted," Mrs Brown said.
Kenneth Watson, who has previously handed out election pamphlets for Ward, said he was shocked by the verdict.
"He's done a fantastic job as a local member, better than most politicians," Mr Watson said.
A by-election will be triggered if a motion is put forward to expel Ward from parliament.
The Minns Government and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman both issued statements last Friday calling for the MP to resign, signalling that a motion put forward by the premier is likely to be supported.
A successful motion would take immediate effect and would need to be passed by the Legislative Assembly, rather than needing to pass both houses.
Without an expulsion motion, Ward would not be automatically disqualified from being an MP until the appeals process has been exhausted.
Ward will receive his sentence date on Wednesday.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has demanded disgraced state MP Gareth Ward resign after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two young men.
The premier told reporters on Monday it is "ridiculous" that the dumped Liberal-turned-independent for Kiama should stay as a sitting member, and that parliament must protect its integrity.
"It is completely ... ridiculous to be in a situation where someone has been, not accused, not charged, but convicted of incredibly serious sexual assault convictions and stay as a member of parliament," Mr Minns said.
"You name one workplace in the whole world where that person would continue to be an employee facing that kind of jail time."
Following a nine-week trial, Ward was found guilty last Friday of sexual intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in 2015, and three counts of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man in 2013.
The scandal-plagued MP vehemently denied the allegations since being charged in 2022.
The maximum penalty for sexual intercourse without consent is 14 years' imprisonment.
Ward was often seen smiling as he arrived and left court each day, but he left the precinct stone-faced and silent while being chased by the media scrum after the verdict. Within hours, his social media accounts were deactivated.
Mr Minns said the government had received legal advice about the Legislative Assembly being able to remove Ward from parliament, even with an appeal pending.
He said any action taken by NSW Parliament would not be punitive, but that it must protect its own integrity.
Ward, the former minister for families, communities, and disability services, remains on bail and must report to police daily as part of his conditions.
Prosecutors will apply to detain him in custody on Wednesday.
Mr Minns said many constituents would question whether a convicted sex offender would continue in their role.
"Many taxpayers, many voters, would say 'Are you really suggesting that someone who has been convicted of these incredibly serious charges continues on as a member of parliament even when they are in jail?" the premier said.
He also praised the victims and said he didn't want their "enormous courage" to get lost in a "political bun fight" over Ward's future career.
"If you speak to survivors of this kind of sexual assault, they will tell you that going through the process of reporting it to the police and then a criminal trial turns your life upside down all over again," the premier said.
"That should not be forgotten in all this."
Both men testified in court about their initial hesitation to come forward to police after grappling for years with self-blame and fear of Ward's power.
Despite the convictions, some Kiama residents, including Lyn and John Gibson, expressed their continued support for Ward on Monday.
Mrs Gibson said she would "vote for him (Ward) again tomorrow".
"We've been very supportive of him," Mr Gibson said.
Adam, who asked for his surname not to be published, said he "wasn't comfortable with someone with that sort of conviction representing the community".
He believed if Ward didn't resign, it would add "insult to the injury" of the two victims.
Lyn and John Brown, who were visiting Kiama from Wollongong, felt Ward should resign immediately.
"I feel pleased he was convicted," Mrs Brown said.
Kenneth Watson, who has previously handed out election pamphlets for Ward, said he was shocked by the verdict.
"He's done a fantastic job as a local member, better than most politicians," Mr Watson said.
A by-election will be triggered if a motion is put forward to expel Ward from parliament.
The Minns Government and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman both issued statements last Friday calling for the MP to resign, signalling that a motion put forward by the premier is likely to be supported.
A successful motion would take immediate effect and would need to be passed by the Legislative Assembly, rather than needing to pass both houses.
Without an expulsion motion, Ward would not be automatically disqualified from being an MP until the appeals process has been exhausted.
Ward will receive his sentence date on Wednesday.