Ben Shields: Former Dubbo mayor suspended from Liberal Party after rape allegation

Former Dubbo mayor Ben Shields’ political future is in doubt following allegations of a historical rape.

Former Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Ben Shields has been suspended from the Liberal Party of Australia. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Former Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) mayor Ben Shields has been suspended from the Liberal Party of Australia following his arrest on charges of historical sexual assault.

The Dubbo News has confirmed Mr Shields was suspended from the party at some stage following his arrest on June 28 last year.

A spokesman from the Liberal Party confirmed Shields was “currently” suspended however said the party was unable to give the time of the suspension or reason why.

Shields, 41, has been charged with sexual intercourse without consent and one count of possessing a conversation from a surveillance device.

Police allege that Mr Shields raped an 18-year-old school student during a threesome while he was a serving councillor on New Year's Eve in 2002.

Former Dubbo Mayor Ben Shields appeared in Penrith Local Court on Friday, October 21. Photo: Jake McCallum

Mr Shields was aged 22 at the time of the alleged incident.

Police documents alleged that in 2021, the alleged victim saw a Facebook post which was made by then-mayor of Dubbo, Stephen Lawrence, which featured Mr Shields.

Documents explain after seeing this, the alleged victim disclosed what allegedly occurred in 2002.

Mr Shields was first elected to council at the age 18 and served for more than two decades until late 2021 when he resigned.

At the time, former DRC councillors had turned against him, accusing him of poor conduct unrelated to his charges.

Mr Shields denied the claims and denounced it as “bullying” before stepping down due to his mental health.

Shields has not entered any pleas to the charges and will return to Penrith Local Court on February 3.