Complainant applied for job with NSW MP Gareth Ward after alleged rape

Australia Broadcast Center

2 days ago

A man who has accused New South Wales MP Gareth Ward of sexually assaulting him sent the politician a job application years after the alleged crime, a court has been told.
Mr Ward has pleaded not guilty to the charge of sexual intercourse without consent against the 24-year-old man in 2015.
He has also pleaded not guilty to four separate charges, including indecent assault against an 18-year-old man in 2013.
An email, read aloud during cross-examination of the 24-year-old, expressed the complainant's opinion that Mr Ward deserved to be "promoted" to the ministry.
He told the jury that after losing his job, he had several knockbacks, and to this day, believes Mr Ward is a "fabulous" local member.
During cross-examination at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney on Tuesday, Mr Ward's barrister, David Campbell, introduced evidence about the man's job application.
The court heard the job application included the line, "Your friendship means the world to me and my respect for you is already as high as it can be".
Mr Campbell said the line was "hardly a sentence that you would use to describe a man who you allege had previously sexually violated you?".
The complainant said he disagreed and "was auditioning for a job, I was overcompensating".
He also said there could be some "embellishment" in a job application.
Mr Campbell pushed further and asked if the embellishment was "false".
The complainant responded, "I believe so".
Mr Campbell suggested the representations in the email were "completely inconsistent" with the complainant's claim of fear and discomfort around Mr Ward.
The complainant disagreed and explained to the court that "a person's mind can change quite quickly, especially when you are facing paying your bills".
During further questioning, he said to Mr Campbell, "I am not sure if you have had the experience of having your job going away — your head goes all over the place".
The 24-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also accepted evidence that he had sent Mr Ward congratulatory messages including a "champagne" emoji after he was returned to parliament at the 2019 election.
The trial continues.