Latest news with #NSWParliament
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Alleged victim gives evidence in NSW MP Gareth Ward's rape trial: ‘I felt dirty and confused'
A staffer says he felt 'dirty' and questioned himself after allegedly being sexually assaulted by state MP Gareth Ward after an event at New South Wales' Parliament House. Ward is on trial in the NSW district court after pleading not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault charges. Jurors on Wednesday heard the then-Liberal MP approached a young, drunk political staffer after a mid-week event at Parliament House in 2015 and offered him a place to stay for the night. The staffer told jurors he accepted the invite as he lived far away and felt nauseous after drinking three glasses of wine. On the way to the MP's Potts Point apartment, the man recalled feeling 'a little bit uncomfortable because he was being a little too gracious with his kind words about me'. After rejecting then allowing a kiss from Ward, he was led to what the then-24-year-old thought was a spare bedroom he would have to himself, the jury was told. But after undressing, he was soon joined by Ward, who asked his permission to share the bed. The man said he didn't think anything of sharing the bed, but he tried to prevent Ward from putting his arm around him or sexually assaulting him. The complainant, now aged in his 30s, became emotional on Wednesday as he recounted moving away from Ward and telling him 'no' when the politician 'groped' his backside and sexually assaulted him. 'At no stage did I [say] yes or gave him any indication that I was pleased with what was going on,' the alleged victim told the jury. The assault was uncomfortable and caused him to feel 'a jolt of pain' which elicited noises of discomfort, the man said. He felt Ward moving next to him and heard him grunting and making a 'relieved kind of groan' before he left the room, the court heard. The young man later noticed a sticky substance on the bed and his rear. 'I felt down but also a little dirty and confused,' the complainant said. 'I recalled saying no and I was thinking 'had I not verbalised no as loudly as I should have?'' He also told the court he told Ward 'no' and put a hand between him and Ward when the MP tried to kissed him shortly after arriving at the unit. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Two minutes after the rejection, Ward tried again and the complainant 'just went along with it' because he 'thought he just wanted a kiss and it would end there'. The morning after the alleged sexual assault, the pair walked to Parliament House together. Ward continued to praise the young man's 'bright future,' the alleged victim said. 'At one stage he said if I stick by him, he'll take care of me,' he said. Ward is also accused of indecently assaulting an 18-year-old in 2013 after meeting the man at a networking event on NSW's south coast a year earlier. The man claims Ward fondled his buttocks and scrotum and gave him an unwanted back massage. The MP, who was charged over the alleged assaults in 2022, contests the allegations and his lawyers are expected to address jurors later in the trial. Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections as a Liberal before winning the 2023 poll as an independent. The trial continues before judge Kara Shead.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Grave concern' over witnesses attempting to avoid Dural caravan inquiry
Independent MLC Rod Roberts has told an inquiry into the Dural caravan incident and the passage of controversial new laws that he has 'serious and grave concern' that witnesses are trying to avoid appearing. The second hearing of the select committee inquiry into the relationship between the Dural caravan hoax and debate on the NSW government's controversial anti-hate laws began on Thursday. The inquiry seeks to establish who knew what and when about the caravan filled with explosives in Sydney's northwest, including NSW Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley, and any reference to it in briefings for the new laws. The controversial suite of laws, introduced and passed by NSW parliament within two weeks in February, outlaw most protest activities outside places of worship, among other measures. Mr Roberts told the committee that he 'held serious and grave concerns about the attempts of some witnesses to avoid appearing before this committee'. 'This committee has determined that it wishes, and in fact needs, to hear and take evidence from certain individuals,' he said. 'It is apparent there has been attempts by some to hinder and frustrate the work of this committee by declining to attend, using spurious and tenuous arguments. 'It is the duty of the Legislative Council, and therefore its committees, to hold the government of the day to account. It is our role to review process and executive activities. 'A strong house of review is fundamental for maintaining democracy. 'One would think that an accountable government would willingly co-operate with alleged council committee and not proper, weak and insubstantial assertions as reasons not to attend and co-operate.' Three leading figures working behind the scenes at Mr Minns' office gave evidence, including Premier's Department secretary Simon Draper, deputy secretary Kate Meagher, and Cabinet Office secretary Kate Boyd. During the proceedings, Nationals MLC Wes Fang produced a letter he said was sent from the Cabinet Office General Counsel deputy secretary Matt Richards on May 19, indicating the trio were 'seeking not to appear'. In response, Ms Boyd told the inquiry: 'I don't think we were seeking not to appear. 'I think the letter makes clear that we were happy to postpone or delay our appearance pending the resolution of these serious matters between the houses, so I think that's how I would paraphrase it.' The inquiry was told the Speaker had 'appealed to the Premier that the executive not accede to any requests from this committee until they'd had a chance to have a look at the issues'. 'So we were all aware that that was coming,' Ms Boyd said. The inquiry was further told the Speaker had received a response from the Premier, and that Ms Boyd had 'advised the (Premier's office) that we intended to write to the committee in these terms'. The timing of initial discussions into the anti-hate laws was also raised during Thursday's session, with Ms Boyd stating the state government requested and was provided advice in December, 2024. Asked if she would describe the Dural caravan incident having 'accelerated' discussions about the laws, Ms Boyd said 'I would' and that advice was asked for after the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel. 'To the best of my recollection, we were asked for advice following October 7 and in the context of an escalating spate of anti-Semitic incidents around the law reform response to help address this issue, and that occurred in late-2024. 'The caravan incident was not a feature of that request.' Who knew what and when The three leading figures working behind the scenes in Mr Minns' office and in cabinet were grilled on Thursday by the committee over what was said by who, and when, following the caravan's discovery. Of particular focus were Mr Minns' briefings with the NSW Police Force. Department secretary Simon Draper, who returned from leave the day the caravan discovery was leaked, told the inquiry that it was regular practice for minutes not to be taken of 'every discussion that happens'. No one who gave evidence to the inquiry on Thursday could recall if, or what, Mr Minns asked during his briefings with NSW Police, in particular a briefing on January 23. Deputy secretary Kate Meagher told the inquiry that she could not recall if NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson had given the impression that the explosives-laden caravan could be the subject of a criminal conspiracy. 'But, I do recall that it was definitely presented in that meeting as something that could have had the potential to cause a mass casualty event, and where we were sitting looking at the number of incidents that had been escalating, that was definitely my takeout,' Ms Meagher said. Mr Draper said of a subsequent briefing on February 3 that while it 'may have been hoped by those in attendance that we could get more conclusive information', the information provided by Mr Hudson was mostly the procedure of the case and reassures 'the Premier and the minister that they were being diligent, that the investigation was progressing given the high level of public interest in the investigation'. 'I don't recall there were any conclusions or views put about at that stage about the nature of the event, but what I took away from it was they (police) were trying hard to keep an open mind. 'Albeit that there were a number of possibilities, including that it was a premeditated terrorist-type incident but also a possibility that it was, I think the terms that they would have used were sort of an attempt to manipulate the justice system to get some benefits in the justice system. 'The police have a lot of experience with that, and so it seemed to me very wise that they would keep an open mind about that.' Mr Draper told the committee there was 'no question' the attacks over the past summer were anti-Semitic and 'any attempt to allay fears in the community would have been premature'. The explosives-laden caravan was discovered by police on January 19 – which was later leaked to the press – with the inquiry previously told a note was found inside the caravan referencing the Great Synagogue. Mr Minns later said police may have prevented a 'mass casualty event'. It's those comments, and the response by police and political leaders, that sparked controversy, especially after the laws passed and the revelation that the van was an alleged conspiracy. The Greens and members of the crossbench joined civil society groups such as the NSW Council for Civil Liberties in calling for the inquiry, with the latter slamming the laws as being repressive. The first hearing in April heard evidence from senior police, including NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Mr Hudson, about their briefings on the Dural caravan. Mr Hudson told the inquiry the source behind the terrorism plot theory was not discredited until February 21, the day after the laws were passed.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- News.com.au
Former NSW Liberal MP Rory Amon charged with breaching bail while fighting child sex offences
A former NSW Liberal MP charged with child sex offences has been arrested after allegedly breaching his bail conditions. Former Pittwater MP Rory Amon was arrested at the Day St police station in Sydney's CBD about 10pm on Wednesday after allegedly breaching the conditions of his bail. In a statement, NSW Police said Mr Amon had since been charged and was refused bail to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday. The 35-year-old pleaded not guilty earlier this year to five counts of sexual intercourse with a child aged between 10 and 14. He is also facing two counts each of charges of attempted sexual intercourse with a child of the same age and indecent assault of someone under 16. Mr Amon resigned from the NSW parliament within hours of being charged with the sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy in Mona Vale, North Sydney in 2017. The charges relate to two separate alleged encounters with the boy who prosecutors alleged in documents tendered to court in March met Mr Amon on a gay hook-up app. The first alleged incident was said to have occurred in the bathroom of an underground carpark where the 13-year-old is alleged to have performed oral sex. The second alleged incident occurred in the same bathroom, during which police allege Mr Amon performed oral sex on the teen and attempted anal intercourse. Police allege the complainant told Mr Amon in their initial discussion online – before they had met – that he was 17 years old, while the former Pittwater MP claimed to be 15. The documents state the boy ceased contact with Mr Amon sometime after before making disclosures to a head teacher at his school who made a report to police. The boy resumed contact with Mr Amon years later on the app Grindr where Mr Amon allegedly sent sexual messages from multiple accounts. Mr Amon had sought to relocate from North Sydney where he claimed to have 'faced difficulties' to Potts Point in March. The application was dismissed by the court following evidence that the complainant feared running into Mr Amon, a circumstance the boy said could be 'personally catastrophic'.
Sky News AU
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Australia to host first-ever Holocaust Survivors' Reunion at NSW Parliament in response to rising anti-Semitism since October 7 terror attacks
Australia will host its first-ever Holocaust Survivors' Reunion in the hope that it will become an annual event. The reunion is the brainchild of survivor Eddy Boas in response to rising antisemitism since the October 7 terror attacks on Israel in 2023. Mr Boas says he hopes up to 150 survivors will attend the in-person lunch at NSW Parliament on June 1, while others will be able to join via Zoom. The 85-year-old, who survived the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as a child, said he came up with the idea early last year after seeing unprecedented levels of antisemitism in his adopted country. 'Holocaust survivors were in angst and I can tell you, I don't get scared too often in life, but I started to think about all this antisemitism that suddenly broke out in Australia, which I would have never expected in my life to see,' Mr Boas told Sky News. 'I know what antisemitism is all about. I had never experienced antisemitism [before] in Australia.' Australia has one of the largest communities of Holocaust survivors in the world – about 35,000 emigrated here in the aftermath of World War II. Last year, there were 2,500 living survivors recorded in Australia, according to the Claims Conference, a non-profit which helps secure compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world. Mr Boas says while states have held smaller events for survivors, it's his understanding that this is the first national reunion of its kind. And one surprising topic will be off the table. 'One of the things that I made sure of, we were not going to talk about the Holocaust,' Mr Boas said. 'I want this to be a joyful luncheon. We all know about the Holocaust. 'Let's celebrate living in Australia. We've all – majority, I can't speak for everybody – have had a good life in Australia. I certainly have. 'I pretty well feel sure that most Holocaust survivors feel like I feel – that Australia, at one stage in our life, was the greatest country in the world. 'Unfortunately, today, with all this antisemitism going on and the [Federal] government not doing anything about it, no matter what they say, it's getting worse even today.' The reunion is being supported by NSW Premier Chris Minns, who will give a speech alongside Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon. 'This will be an important opportunity for Holocaust survivors to reflect, to remember, and to reunite,' Mr Minns told Sky News. 'With the number of Holocaust survivors falling as each year passes, moments to come together like this take on an extra significance. 'Holocaust survivors have made major contributions to NSW, Australia and the world. 'Their stories of survival are as important today as they have ever been.' Mr Boas says he is grateful for Mr Minns' support. 'We had a good talk about antisemitism and we had a talk about the luncheon,' Mr Boas said. 'He has allocated a grant to us to hold it, which I'm really pleased about. He is a terrific premier.' Mr Boas urged survivors to contact the Australian Association of Holocaust Survivors if they have not yet received an invitation.
