Gareth Ward to run as an independent in Kiama, but may be banned if re-elected
Voters could re-elect an MP who has been charged with historical sexual abuse, but the major parties have declared they’d work to have him banned from parliament if he wins as an independent.
State Election
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Kiama voters could end up electing an MP who would be banned from attending parliament, with Premier Dominic Perrottet saying he’d push for a fresh motion to suspend Gareth Ward if the former Liberal is re-elected.
Local member Gareth Ward will contest the election despite facing charges of alleged historical sexual abuse of a man and a 17-year-old boy, which resulted in him being suspended from NSW Parliament and the Liberal Party last year.
He has maintained he is innocent of the charges.
Mr Ward will run in the election as an independent after pleading not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of indecent assault and one count of common assault.
But if Mr Ward wins, he is set to be banned from entering NSW Parliament, with the Premier Dominic Perrottet vowing to suspend the MP, while it’s understood Labor leader Chris Minns would too suspend him if Labor wins government wins.
It came as Mr Perrottet declared the Liberals were “going to win Kiama”, despite no candidate being chosen for the party 48 hours out from the nomination deadline.
Mr Perrottet said he would support a fresh motion to suspend Mr Ward if he was re-elected.
“Gareth has been suspended from parliament (and) that was the government‘s decision in relation to those matters before the courts,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Until such time as those measures are resolved, my position remains the same.”
It came as Mr Minns also revealed Labor wouldn’t form a government with Mr Ward in the event of a hung parliament.
“We won’t be entering into deals with Gareth Ward if he’s elected the member for the seat of Kiama,” Mr Minns said.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate given both sides of politics moved a unanimous motion to suspend him from parliament just a few months ago.”
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