‘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.

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.”

The Liberal Party would support expelling Kiama MP Gareth Ward. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

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.”

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Ward’s position in parliament was ‘untenable’. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

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.

Premier Chris Minns fell short of calling for a motion for Ward to be expelled. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“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.

Originally published as ‘Ridiculous’ for convicted Kiama MP Gareth Ward to stay on: NSW Premier Chris Minns