Latest news with #GarethWard
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Disgraced state MP jailed after sex abuse convictions
A disgraced state MP has been escorted behind bars days after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two young men. Kiama MP Gareth Ward, 44, was found guilty earlier in July by a NSW District Court jury of one sexual intercourse without consent and three indecent assault charges. On Wednesday, Judge Kara Shead ordered that the politician be imprisoned ahead of sentence. His barrister Edward Anderson earlier urged the court to keep his client on bail as he would be a target in prison because of his high profile and the sexual nature of the offences. Judge Shead said protective measures could be put in place if needed. The judge also declined to extend bail because of Ward's poor vision as a result of his oculocutaneous albinism. The 44-year-old invited a drunk 18-year-old man - whom he met a year prior - to his South Coast home in February 2013. The man told the jury that Ward plied him with drinks before indecently assaulting him three times in one night, despite his attempts to resist. Two years later, the long-time MP sexually assaulted an intoxicated political staffer after a mid-week event at NSW Parliament House in 2015. The man, who was 24 at the time but is now in his 30s, said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying "no". On Monday, NSW Premier Chris Minns called on the independent MP to immediately resign, saying it would be "ridiculous" for him to continue serving the state after being found guilty of sexual abuse. The premier said he had received legal advice that the former Liberal could be expelled from parliament if required. Ward has yet to be sentenced and still has time to lodge an appeal of his convictions. Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the 2023 poll as an independent. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Shocking update on Australian politician found guilty of sexually abusing two young men
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.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Kiama voters chose Gareth Ward after he was charged. This is how they feel now
In 2023, nearly a year after being charged with three counts of indecent assault, one count of sexual intercourse without consent, and one charge of common assault, Kiama MP Gareth Ward stunned the NSW political establishment by holding on to his seat at the state election. 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.
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Kiama voters chose Gareth Ward after he was charged. This is how they feel now
In 2023, nearly a year after being charged with three counts of indecent assault, one count of sexual intercourse without consent, and one charge of common assault, Kiama MP Gareth Ward stunned the NSW political establishment by holding on to his seat at the state election. 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.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Ridiculous' for convicted Kiama MP Gareth Ward to stay on: NSW Premier Chris Minns
Kiama MP Gareth Ward could be booted from parliament as early as next week after he was convicted of assaulting two young men, with the state government preparing a motion to have him expelled. The former Liberal MP was found guilty of three counts of assault with act of indecency against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013 by a jury on Friday. The jury also found the one-time families minister guilty of a fourth offence of intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. It is understood the state government will move a motion when parliament resumes on Tuesday, August 5 to expel Ward. On Monday, Premier Chris Minns praised Ward's accusers as 'incredibly courageous people' and again called on the disgraced MP to resign from parliament. 'Firstly, he should resign,' Mr Minns said. 'It is completely ridiculous to be in a situation where someone has been not accused, not charged, but convicted of incredibly serious offences and stay as a member of parliament.' Mr Minns said the NSW Legislative Assembly needed to 'be in a position where it protects its integrity'. 'One of the positions it can take to protect its integrity is to say that if you've been convicted of these serious charges, it's not reasonable that member stay as a member of parliament,' he said. '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.' Mr Minns confirmed the parliament had the power to remove Ward but noted it was important that the Legislative Assembly's decision 'is not punitive'. 'The punitive measure is up to the NSW court. It's not up to parliament,' he said. 'They'll make the decision about what punishment is applied, not us.' Asked on Monday if he would support a motion to expel Ward from parliament if he did not resign, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said he would. 'Subject to the government indicating its legal advice that the power is there, we would support that motion,' Mr Speakman said. 'And look, on the face of it, the power is there. But I would like to see the legal advice.' Both Labor and the Liberals have called on Ward to resign following Friday's verdict. 'Gareth Ward should not be in parliament,' Mr Speakman said. 'The jury finding is of behaviour that is completely reprehensible. It's sickening. '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.' Neither Mr Minns nor Mr Speakman confirmed whether they were involved in discussions about preselecting candidates for a potential by-election. 'I'm sure there are conversations under way,' Mr Speakman said. He later went on to clarify: 'I'm just surmising the nature of politics these sort of conversations happen.' Ward only narrowly beat out Labor's Katelin McInerney in the 2023 state election. Ward is yet to be sentenced and will next appear in court on Wednesday.
