Shocking update on Australian politician found guilty of sexually abusing two young men

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

A parliamentary push could begin within weeks to remove a disgraced state MP after his conviction for sexually abusing two young men who still has not resigned.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said it would be 'ridiculous' for independent MP for Kiama, Gareth Ward, to be allowed to continue serving the state after he was found guilty of the crimes.
He called on the representative for the south coast seat of Kiama to immediately resign but added he had received legal advice that the former Liberal could be expelled from parliament if required.
'Firstly, he should resign,' Minns told reporters on Monday.
'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.
'This is just an untenable situation.'
The 'integrity' of the oldest parliament in Australia needed to be protected, the premier added, and action should be taken 'as soon as possible' when parliament returns on August 5.
'Many voters will say, "Are you really suggesting that someone who's been convicted of these incredibly serious charges continues on as a member of parliament, even if they're in jail?"' Minns said.
'...If you've been convicted of these serious charges, it's not reasonable that member stay as a member of parliament.
'I haven't spoken to all of my colleagues, and I haven't spoken to the crossbench or the opposition about it, but it would seem ridiculous that he would continue as a member of parliament.'
Under the NSW constitution, state MPs will have their seat vacated if convicted of offences punishable with a term of more than five years' imprisonment.
The most serious charge for which Ward, 44, was found guilty carries a maximum 14-year jail term but he still has the ability to appeal his convictions.
Ward was accused of inviting a drunk 18-year-old man - whom he met a year prior - to his South Coast home in February 2013.
The man told a jury that Ward, then a first-term Liberal MP, plied him with drinks before indecently assaulting him three times in one night despite his attempts to resist.
Two years later, Ward sexually assaulted an intoxicated political staffer after a mid-week event at NSW Parliament House.
The man, who was 24 at the time, said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying 'no'.
After deliberating for two-and-a-half days, a jury on Friday returned unanimous guilty verdicts for four sexual offences.
The Coalition also condemned the conduct of the former minister for families, communities and community services, suggesting it would back any move to drive him out of parliament.
'Gareth Ward should not be in parliament. The jury finding is of behaviour that is completely reprehensible. It's sickening,' Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said.
'He should not be in the parliament. His position is untenable. He cannot represent the constituents of Kiama.
'He obviously can't represent them when he's incarcerated, and even if he remains out of incarceration for the time being, there is no way he can effectively represent his constituents.
'So he must resign and if he doesn't resign, then parliament has to take all the steps it can to protect its integrity, and if the power is there to expel Mr Ward, he should be expelled.'
Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the seat at the 2023 poll as an independent.
He remains on bail under strict conditions ahead of a detention application due to be heard in court on Wednesday. He is yet to be sentenced.