Latest news with #Liberal-turned-independent
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Staffer 'didn't want to cause problems for Liberal Party' after MP's alleged abuse
A political staffer has told a jury NSW MP Gareth Ward told him he would "take care of him" if he "stuck by him" the morning after he allegedly sexually assaulted him. Ward, 43, has faced the second day of his jury trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney. The Liberal-turned-independent member for Kiama has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with an act of indecency and an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old at Meroo Meadow in 2013. He has also pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent at Potts Point against a 24-year-old political staffer, who gave evidence about the alleged incident on Wednesday. The complainant said the man drank three to four glasses of white wine at an event at Parliament House in 2015, which was "a lot" for him at the time. He said he ran into Ward while trying to organise a taxi home, who then invited him to stay the night at his apartment. Ward allegedly kissed the man on his balcony, but the staffer pushed him away and said "no". The 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, and was allegedly shown his room by Ward. It's alleged the complainant expected to be sleeping alone, but that Ward got into bed and allegedly put his hands on the complainant's buttocks. Without warning, Ward allegedly digitally penetrated the complainant, while kissing his neck and masturbating himself. The complainant told the jury he felt "dirty and confused". The next morning, Ward allegedly told the man he would "take care of him" if he "stuck by him". The man made a formal complaint to police in 2022. Crown prosecutor Monica Knowles asked him why he did not contact police earlier. "I was a little stressed and I was concerned that I could cause problems for Mr Ward and the Liberal Party and so I wanted to take some time to think about it," he said. "It was the doubts in my head, you know the wondering whether I led him on, the not wanting the humiliation, the not wanting to cause problems for the Liberal Party." The complainant said he had earlier confided in a friend about the incident and that he gave her permission to pass his details on to police. He said his feelings changed about making a statement after police called him and that he had realised the gravity of what had allegedly happened to him. "I didn't think it was going to be taken seriously ... because it wasn't rape and what I thought rape was," he said. Ms Knowles asked the complainant what he meant when he said he didn't want to cause problems for the Liberal Party. "He (Ward) was the minister responsible for child safety. Any kind of allegations like this ... while I was confident in the process, was just going to be humiliation," the complainant said. The complainant will continue giving evidence on Thursday. Ward was charged in 2022. Ward was a Shoalhaven councillor before becoming the Liberal Member for Kiama in 2011. Now an independent, he was re-elected as the MP for Kiama in 2023. A political staffer has told a jury NSW MP Gareth Ward told him he would "take care of him" if he "stuck by him" the morning after he allegedly sexually assaulted him. Ward, 43, has faced the second day of his jury trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney. The Liberal-turned-independent member for Kiama has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with an act of indecency and an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old at Meroo Meadow in 2013. He has also pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent at Potts Point against a 24-year-old political staffer, who gave evidence about the alleged incident on Wednesday. The complainant said the man drank three to four glasses of white wine at an event at Parliament House in 2015, which was "a lot" for him at the time. He said he ran into Ward while trying to organise a taxi home, who then invited him to stay the night at his apartment. Ward allegedly kissed the man on his balcony, but the staffer pushed him away and said "no". The 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, and was allegedly shown his room by Ward. It's alleged the complainant expected to be sleeping alone, but that Ward got into bed and allegedly put his hands on the complainant's buttocks. Without warning, Ward allegedly digitally penetrated the complainant, while kissing his neck and masturbating himself. The complainant told the jury he felt "dirty and confused". The next morning, Ward allegedly told the man he would "take care of him" if he "stuck by him". The man made a formal complaint to police in 2022. Crown prosecutor Monica Knowles asked him why he did not contact police earlier. "I was a little stressed and I was concerned that I could cause problems for Mr Ward and the Liberal Party and so I wanted to take some time to think about it," he said. "It was the doubts in my head, you know the wondering whether I led him on, the not wanting the humiliation, the not wanting to cause problems for the Liberal Party." The complainant said he had earlier confided in a friend about the incident and that he gave her permission to pass his details on to police. He said his feelings changed about making a statement after police called him and that he had realised the gravity of what had allegedly happened to him. "I didn't think it was going to be taken seriously ... because it wasn't rape and what I thought rape was," he said. Ms Knowles asked the complainant what he meant when he said he didn't want to cause problems for the Liberal Party. "He (Ward) was the minister responsible for child safety. Any kind of allegations like this ... while I was confident in the process, was just going to be humiliation," the complainant said. The complainant will continue giving evidence on Thursday. Ward was charged in 2022. Ward was a Shoalhaven councillor before becoming the Liberal Member for Kiama in 2011. Now an independent, he was re-elected as the MP for Kiama in 2023. A political staffer has told a jury NSW MP Gareth Ward told him he would "take care of him" if he "stuck by him" the morning after he allegedly sexually assaulted him. Ward, 43, has faced the second day of his jury trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney. The Liberal-turned-independent member for Kiama has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with an act of indecency and an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old at Meroo Meadow in 2013. He has also pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent at Potts Point against a 24-year-old political staffer, who gave evidence about the alleged incident on Wednesday. The complainant said the man drank three to four glasses of white wine at an event at Parliament House in 2015, which was "a lot" for him at the time. He said he ran into Ward while trying to organise a taxi home, who then invited him to stay the night at his apartment. Ward allegedly kissed the man on his balcony, but the staffer pushed him away and said "no". The 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, and was allegedly shown his room by Ward. It's alleged the complainant expected to be sleeping alone, but that Ward got into bed and allegedly put his hands on the complainant's buttocks. Without warning, Ward allegedly digitally penetrated the complainant, while kissing his neck and masturbating himself. The complainant told the jury he felt "dirty and confused". The next morning, Ward allegedly told the man he would "take care of him" if he "stuck by him". The man made a formal complaint to police in 2022. Crown prosecutor Monica Knowles asked him why he did not contact police earlier. "I was a little stressed and I was concerned that I could cause problems for Mr Ward and the Liberal Party and so I wanted to take some time to think about it," he said. "It was the doubts in my head, you know the wondering whether I led him on, the not wanting the humiliation, the not wanting to cause problems for the Liberal Party." The complainant said he had earlier confided in a friend about the incident and that he gave her permission to pass his details on to police. He said his feelings changed about making a statement after police called him and that he had realised the gravity of what had allegedly happened to him. "I didn't think it was going to be taken seriously ... because it wasn't rape and what I thought rape was," he said. Ms Knowles asked the complainant what he meant when he said he didn't want to cause problems for the Liberal Party. "He (Ward) was the minister responsible for child safety. Any kind of allegations like this ... while I was confident in the process, was just going to be humiliation," the complainant said. The complainant will continue giving evidence on Thursday. Ward was charged in 2022. Ward was a Shoalhaven councillor before becoming the Liberal Member for Kiama in 2011. Now an independent, he was re-elected as the MP for Kiama in 2023. A political staffer has told a jury NSW MP Gareth Ward told him he would "take care of him" if he "stuck by him" the morning after he allegedly sexually assaulted him. Ward, 43, has faced the second day of his jury trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney. The Liberal-turned-independent member for Kiama has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with an act of indecency and an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old at Meroo Meadow in 2013. He has also pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent at Potts Point against a 24-year-old political staffer, who gave evidence about the alleged incident on Wednesday. The complainant said the man drank three to four glasses of white wine at an event at Parliament House in 2015, which was "a lot" for him at the time. He said he ran into Ward while trying to organise a taxi home, who then invited him to stay the night at his apartment. Ward allegedly kissed the man on his balcony, but the staffer pushed him away and said "no". The 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, and was allegedly shown his room by Ward. It's alleged the complainant expected to be sleeping alone, but that Ward got into bed and allegedly put his hands on the complainant's buttocks. Without warning, Ward allegedly digitally penetrated the complainant, while kissing his neck and masturbating himself. The complainant told the jury he felt "dirty and confused". The next morning, Ward allegedly told the man he would "take care of him" if he "stuck by him". The man made a formal complaint to police in 2022. Crown prosecutor Monica Knowles asked him why he did not contact police earlier. "I was a little stressed and I was concerned that I could cause problems for Mr Ward and the Liberal Party and so I wanted to take some time to think about it," he said. "It was the doubts in my head, you know the wondering whether I led him on, the not wanting the humiliation, the not wanting to cause problems for the Liberal Party." The complainant said he had earlier confided in a friend about the incident and that he gave her permission to pass his details on to police. He said his feelings changed about making a statement after police called him and that he had realised the gravity of what had allegedly happened to him. "I didn't think it was going to be taken seriously ... because it wasn't rape and what I thought rape was," he said. Ms Knowles asked the complainant what he meant when he said he didn't want to cause problems for the Liberal Party. "He (Ward) was the minister responsible for child safety. Any kind of allegations like this ... while I was confident in the process, was just going to be humiliation," the complainant said. The complainant will continue giving evidence on Thursday. Ward was charged in 2022. Ward was a Shoalhaven councillor before becoming the Liberal Member for Kiama in 2011. Now an independent, he was re-elected as the MP for Kiama in 2023.
The Advertiser
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
NSW MP's sexual assault trial approaching
NSW MP Gareth Ward is days away from fighting his historic sexual assault charges in a trial tipped to run for four weeks. Ward, 43, will appear before the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney from May 26 after strenuously denying the allegations stemming between 2013 and 2015. The Liberal-turned-independent member for Kiama previously pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with an act of indecency, and common assault against two complainants, aged 17 and 25. Ward's matter was mentioned on May 22 ahead of his trial, with Judge Stephen Hanley SC confirming the trial was ready to begin next week. Defence barrister Edward Anderson, representing Ward, said his client intended to fight the allegations. The court heard it may take some days for a jury to be empanelled, and that the trial is anticipated to run for three to four weeks. The Crown will allege Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow near Bomaderry in February 2013, and allegedly sexually assaulted a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015. Ward ran as an independent in the 2023 state election and retained the seat he had held since 2011, when he was elected as Kiama's first Liberal MP. NSW MP Gareth Ward is days away from fighting his historic sexual assault charges in a trial tipped to run for four weeks. Ward, 43, will appear before the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney from May 26 after strenuously denying the allegations stemming between 2013 and 2015. The Liberal-turned-independent member for Kiama previously pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with an act of indecency, and common assault against two complainants, aged 17 and 25. Ward's matter was mentioned on May 22 ahead of his trial, with Judge Stephen Hanley SC confirming the trial was ready to begin next week. Defence barrister Edward Anderson, representing Ward, said his client intended to fight the allegations. The court heard it may take some days for a jury to be empanelled, and that the trial is anticipated to run for three to four weeks. The Crown will allege Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow near Bomaderry in February 2013, and allegedly sexually assaulted a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015. Ward ran as an independent in the 2023 state election and retained the seat he had held since 2011, when he was elected as Kiama's first Liberal MP. NSW MP Gareth Ward is days away from fighting his historic sexual assault charges in a trial tipped to run for four weeks. Ward, 43, will appear before the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney from May 26 after strenuously denying the allegations stemming between 2013 and 2015. The Liberal-turned-independent member for Kiama previously pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with an act of indecency, and common assault against two complainants, aged 17 and 25. Ward's matter was mentioned on May 22 ahead of his trial, with Judge Stephen Hanley SC confirming the trial was ready to begin next week. Defence barrister Edward Anderson, representing Ward, said his client intended to fight the allegations. The court heard it may take some days for a jury to be empanelled, and that the trial is anticipated to run for three to four weeks. The Crown will allege Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow near Bomaderry in February 2013, and allegedly sexually assaulted a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015. Ward ran as an independent in the 2023 state election and retained the seat he had held since 2011, when he was elected as Kiama's first Liberal MP. NSW MP Gareth Ward is days away from fighting his historic sexual assault charges in a trial tipped to run for four weeks. Ward, 43, will appear before the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney from May 26 after strenuously denying the allegations stemming between 2013 and 2015. The Liberal-turned-independent member for Kiama previously pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with an act of indecency, and common assault against two complainants, aged 17 and 25. Ward's matter was mentioned on May 22 ahead of his trial, with Judge Stephen Hanley SC confirming the trial was ready to begin next week. Defence barrister Edward Anderson, representing Ward, said his client intended to fight the allegations. The court heard it may take some days for a jury to be empanelled, and that the trial is anticipated to run for three to four weeks. The Crown will allege Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow near Bomaderry in February 2013, and allegedly sexually assaulted a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015. Ward ran as an independent in the 2023 state election and retained the seat he had held since 2011, when he was elected as Kiama's first Liberal MP.
The Age
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Optimism is the name of the game, but can the teals cause further upset in WA?
They're flushed with Climate 200 cash and inundated with hundreds of eager volunteers hoping to help take advantage of growing disillusionment with the major parties. But this election, the teal independent challenge goes far beyond the traditional inner-city blue-ribbon upset that saw Kate Chaney voted into power in 2022. In Forrest, surgeon Sue Chapman is trying to take advantage of the retirement of long-time MP Nola Marino to pry the South West seat the Liberal Party, which has held it since 1972. In Fremantle, Kate Hulett is hoping to carry over her surprise near-win at the state election to the federal seat of the same name in a bid to unseat Labor's Josh Wilson. In Moore, the presence of psychologist and former army reservist Nathan Barton could jumble preference flows further as Liberal Vince Connelly tries to win the seat back from incumbent Liberal-turned-independent Ian Goodenough. Hulett, Chaney and Chapman were all 'optimistic' about their chances on election night. Redbridge director and poll analyst Kos Samaras said that optimism wasn't misplaced, but it was likely only one of them that will be celebrating on Saturday night. 'They're seats to watch just to see how big that vote is, but I don't think they will have the same momentum that Chaney had in Curtin,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Optimism is the name of the game, but can the teals cause further upset in WA?
They're flushed with Climate 200 cash and inundated with hundreds of eager volunteers hoping to help take advantage of growing disillusionment with the major parties. But this election, the teal independent challenge goes far beyond the traditional inner-city blue-ribbon upset that saw Kate Chaney voted into power in 2022. In Forrest, surgeon Sue Chapman is trying to take advantage of the retirement of long-time MP Nola Marino to pry the South West seat the Liberal Party, which has held it since 1972. In Fremantle, Kate Hulett is hoping to carry over her surprise near-win at the state election to the federal seat of the same name in a bid to unseat Labor's Josh Wilson. In Moore, the presence of psychologist and former army reservist Nathan Barton could jumble preference flows further as Liberal Vince Connelly tries to win the seat back from incumbent Liberal-turned-independent Ian Goodenough. Hulett, Chaney and Chapman were all 'optimistic' about their chances on election night. Redbridge director and poll analyst Kos Samaras said that optimism wasn't misplaced, but it was likely only one of them that will be celebrating on Saturday night. 'They're seats to watch just to see how big that vote is, but I don't think they will have the same momentum that Chaney had in Curtin,' he said.
