Gareth Ward historic sexual assault charges: Education Minister seeks advice on school ban

The Education Minister has banned Kiama MP Gareth Ward from entering schools, after Deputy Opposition Leader Prue Car suggested he had visited schools across his electorate — before being charged with historic sexual violence against a teen.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has officially banned Kiama MP Gareth Ward from visiting schools across his electorate, amid historic sexual violence charges being laid against him.

On March 22, Mr Ward was charged by NSW Police over historic allegations of sexual abuse of a man and a teenage boy. Mr Ward denies the allegations and will defend the charges.

“Mr Ward has not visited schools since he has been charged and will not be entering schools,” Ms Mitchell told NewLocal. “Yesterday within hours of him being charged I requested that he be banned from entering schools.”

It comes after the minister told the Upper House today that she had informed school executives of the decision and that local principals had been instructed not to allow him access.

“I spoke to my secretary after question time as I indicated that I would, I made it clear that considering both the seriousness and the nature of the charges that had been made yesterday that it wasn’t appropriate for the MP in question to be visiting schools,” Ms Mitchell said.

NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell. Picture: Christian Gilles / NCA NewsWire

“I’ve asked for this to be communicated to local schools and we discussed the appropriate way for that to occur.

‘Local school executives in the area have been asked to contact relevant local principals today to reinforce this as the appropriate course of action and I can confirm to the House that the MP in question will not be visiting schools.”

According to his Facebook page, Mr Ward visited four local schools between December 6, 2021 and March 15, including Nowra Anglican College, his former high school at Bomaderry, Berry Public School and North Nowra Public School, months after he revealed he was the MP at the centre of historic sexual violence allegations.

Gareth Ward visited four local schools in his electorate after he outed himself as the MP at the centre of historic sexual violence allegations in 2021. It is not suggested any of the student depicted have made allegations against Mr Ward, who denies the allegations, and had not been changed at the time he visited the schools

Gareth Ward visited four local schools in his electorate after he outed himself as the MP at the centre of historic sexual violence allegations in 2021. It is not suggested any of the students depicted have made allegations against Mr Ward, who denies the allegations, Mr Ward had not been charged by NSW Police at the time he visited the schools

NewsLocal does not suggest any allegations of misconduct or sexual violence have been raised by any of the students at the schools visited.

Mr Ward had not been charged over the allegations at the time he had visited the schools.

Gareth Ward visited four local schools in his electorate after he outed himself as the MP at the centre of historic sexual violence allegations in 2021. It is not suggested any of the student depicted have made allegations against Mr Ward, who denies the allegations, and had not been changed at the time he visited the schools

Gareth Ward visited four local schools in his electorate after he outed himself as the MP at the centre of historic sexual violence allegations in 2021. It is not suggested any of the student depicted have made allegations against Mr Ward, who denies the allegations, and had not been changed at the time he visited the schools

Ms Mitchell’s action comes as Deputy Opposition Leader Prue Car and Transport Minister David Elliot came out in force against her decision to “seek advice” rather than banning the MP immediately.

Deputy leader of NSW Labor Prue Car. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Ms Car hit out at the NSW Government’s lack of action against the former Families and Community Services Minister, as the Opposition in the Upper House sought all government documents relating to the Kiama MP, as well as any documentation regarding his visits to NSW schools.

“We have an Education Minister who cannot even answer the question as to whether Mr Ward should be banned from entering schools,” Ms Car said on Wednesday. “If this was a teacher that had these charges laid against him or her, that person would be removed.”

Meanwhile, Transport Minister David Elliott said Education Minister Sarah Mitchell would get his ‘Woke of the Week’ award after she told Parliament she needed to seek advice on banning Kiama state Independent MP Gareth Ward from schools.

Transport Minister David Elliott. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell.

Mr Elliott took to social media to vent his frustration at the Minister’s delay in banning Mr Ward — something that he could do while remaining in the role of Kiama state Independent MP.

“Woke of the Week award goes to the NSW Nationals who need to ‘seek advice’ from public servants as to whether an MP who has been charged by Police for sexual assault should be banned from entering schools,” Mr Elliott said.

Without commenting on the case before the courts, Mr Elliott told NewsLocal several of his cabinet colleagues, as well as the backbench, supported calls to ban Mr Ward form entering schools immediately.

Former Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward was arrested and charged on March 22. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

“I have told the Premier and the Deputy Premier this is completely unacceptable,” he said.

“I cannot believe this is even being discussed and considered.

“The bloke has been charged for sex offences — I’ve raised (this with) the Premier.

Labor MLC John Graham asked whether Ms Mitchell will ban “members of parliament who are being investigated for criminal offences, including sexual violence from visiting local schools”.

The Education Minister said she would be “seeking advice from the Secretary of the Department of Education later today in terms of the appropriate way to manage that particular circumstance”.

“I am assuming … those remarks are in relation to the charges that have been laid today against the member for Kiama, which have only happened just recently,” she said.

Ms Mitchell said she had not ordered any investigation into the number of schools visited by Mr Ward, following questions by Labor MLC Walt Secord.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said Mr Ward was charged with three counts of assault with act of indecency, and one count each of sexual intercourse without consent and common assault.

“Police will allege in court that the man indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013, and sexually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015,” the spokeswoman said.

Gareth Ward was released on bail on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

Mr Ward denies allegations made against him, and refused to stand down from NSW Parliament, despite calls from NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to do so.

“I am completely innocent of the charges brought against me,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. “I will be instructing my lawyers to seek to bring this matter before the courts as quickly as possible and I look forward to demonstrating my innocence there.”