Liberal MP Rory Amon charged with child sex offences, quits politics
Pittwater MP Rory Amon has been charged with a total of 10 offences — including five counts of sexual intercourse with a person over 10 and under 14 years.
NSW
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A NSW MP has quit politics after being charged with 10 historic child sex offences allegedly committed against a 13-year-old male.
Police charged Pittwater MP Rory Amon, 35, at 6am on Friday, following an investigation into reports of an alleged sexual assault of a teenage boy known to him in Mona Vale in July 2017.
Mr Amon has vowed to fight the charges.
The Daily Telegraph first began asking questions about the matter after becoming aware of police investigations involving Mr Amon around the time of the March state election.
It is unclear if Mr Amon was aware of police inquiries being made at the time.
Police revealed on Friday that, following an investigation, a 35-year-old man had been arrested at Manly Police Station.
Mr Amon was charged with five counts of sexual intercourse with a person over 10 and under 14, two counts of attempting sexual intercourse with a child over 10 and under 14, two counts of indecent assault of a person under 16 years of age, and committing an act of indecency with a person under 16 years.
The former opposition assistant spokesman for youth was given strict conditional bail.
Mr Amon’s legal team on Friday lodged — but then withdrew — an application for a suppression order.
The case was adjourned to the Downing Centre on October 29.
According to documents tendered in the case, police allege Mr Amon committed the sexual offences against a 13-year-old male who cannot legally be identified.
The documents said the alleged offences all occurred between June and July in 2017.
A source said Mr Amon’s family was blindsided by the allegations.
The court was told the matter is set to be taken over by the Office of the Director of Prosecutions and will be pursued as a strictly indictable offence.
In a statement, Mr Amon said he had resigned and would contest the charges.
“I deny all charges, and will make my case in the courts, not in the media,” he said.
“The nature of the charges against me are such that I will be unable to continue to fully represent my community in parliament. As a result, I have tendered my resignation as the Member for Pittwater, effective immediately.”
The former NSW Rural Fire Service brigade president and longtime volunteer firefighter, Mr Amon became the Liberal candidate for Pittwater following the retirement of cabinet minister Rob Stokes.
The lawyer was controversially installed by the Liberal Party state executive despite a push for a woman to be selected.
Less than 30 minutes before The Daily Telegraph revealed the Pittwater MP had been charged, Mr Amon and other Liberal MPs had been encouraged to share branded social media “tiles” to mark National Child Protection week.
An hour later, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman’s office told MPs to stay silent on Child Protection Week, according to an email leaked to the Telegraph.
“Dear colleagues, please do not action this FYI,” it said.
Describing the charges as “extremely serious”, Mr Speakman said he had asked Mr Amon to resign from both the Liberal Party and state parliament.
“The charges laid against Mr Rory Amon are extremely serious,” he said. “The alleged conduct strikes at the heart of the standards expected of Members of Parliament.”
At the last state election, Mr Amon just pipped independent Jacqui Scruby 60 6 votes.
It is understood Mr Speakman is keen to have a candidate in the seat within two weeks, in expectation of by-election occurring in Hornsby and Epping on October 19.
WEBB QUESTIONED
Police Commissioner Karen Webb faced questions about sex offence charges levelled against Mr Amon as she appeared at budget estimates.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak asked Ms Webb if she could inform parliament “about the processes and charges in relation to Mr Amon’s charging”.
Ms Webb took the question on notice.
“He is currently in custody awaiting an appearance in court, will the police support an application for bail from him?” Mr Borsak asked.
“That will be up to the bail sergeant,” Ms Webb replied.
“A bail sergeant … makes the determination, and that’s the decision of the bail sergeant,” she said.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the charges were “news to me”.
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