Politician Convict Aims to Maintain Position in New South Wales Legislative Assembly
NSW Politician Gareth Ward Resigns After Failed Legal Challenge Against Expulsion
Gareth Ward, an independent member of the New South Wales (NSW) Parliament and the representative for Kiama, has resigned from his seat following a failed legal challenge to prevent his expulsion.
Ward, who was convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault involving two young men in 2015 and 2013, was placed in custody after the verdict and has filed a notice of intention to appeal. However, his legal bid to delay parliamentary action on his expulsion was dismissed by the NSW Court of Appeal.
The parliament had scheduled a vote for expulsion this week, but Ward's resignation occurred just before it, effectively ending the legal and parliamentary attempts to remove him forcibly. His resignation has triggered a by-election for the Kiama seat, potentially allowing voters to elect a new representative within weeks.
The incidents occurred at Ward's residence between 2013 and 2015. After his conviction, Ward expressed being "absolutely shattered" and indicated he was consulting with his family while preparing to appeal the ruling.
Ward's legal team plans to file for an injunction during a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Friday. The aim of the injunction is to prevent Ward from being ousted from the parliament.
The legal challenge was criticized for lack of proper notice and incurred costs against Ward. NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed concerns about Ward, stating that he has no shame and that his continued service in parliament while incarcerated is unacceptable. Opposition leader Mark Speakman also called for Ward to step down, arguing that taxpayers are footing the bill for his continued service.
Despite refusing to resign despite his conviction, Ward resigned from his ministerial duties and the Liberal Party amidst allegations in 2021 but was re-elected for the Kiama seat in 2023. Ward faces sentencing for multiple charges, including three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape, which is scheduled to take place next month.
[1] Source: ABC News Australia
Politics surrounding the resignation of NSW Politician Gareth Ward have intensified, with debates in policy-and-legislation and war-and-conflicts unfolding about his expulsion and the ongoing legal challenge. General news outlets are closely monitoring general-news developments, as Ward's resignation could pave the way for a by-election in Kiama, potentially resulting in a new representative.
