Gareth Ward to stand trial over charges of sexual intercourse without consent, assault

A former Liberal state minister will stand trial on serious charges of sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault.

Former NSW Liberal MP Gareth Ward has said he is “confident I will prove my innocence” and win his case after he formally pleaded not guilty to historical sexual and indecent assault allegations.

The Kiama MP, who has been suspended from parliament and is on bail, will fight five charges; sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with act of indecency, and one count of common assault.

“Not guilty,” Mr Ward said in Nowra District Court on Tuesday, after each of the five charges were read to the court.

Police allege the incidents occurred in 2013 and 2015.

MP Gareth Ward pictured arriving at Nowra District Court where he formally pleaded not guilty to historical sexual assault charges. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

Mr Ward will now face trial on the five charges. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

The charges against him relate to two alleged incidents involving a 27-year-old man in Sydney 2015, and a 17-year-old boy in the Shoalhaven area in 2013. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

The alleged 2013 incident involved a then-25-year-old man in the Shoalhaven area of NSW.

The alleged 2015 incident involved a man who was then aged 17 at Potts Point in Sydney.

Outside court, he told media there was a lot of things he wanted to say but was “prohibited from saying”.

“I’m incredibly confident I will prove my innocence given the opportunity,” Mr Ward said.

“It’s been a really difficult two years, I am looking forward to proving my innocence.”

He said he believes in truth and justice, while “passionately” believing in the presumption of innocence.

Mr Ward said it is a “human right” rather than an “optional extra”.

“I’m looking forward to not only winning this case but winning this election as well,” he said.

A date has not been set for the trial. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

Mr Ward ran in the recent NSW state election, and is still in the running to return as MP in the seat of Kiama. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

Mr Ward was previously the Families, Communities and Disability Services Minister, and was elected to parliament in 2011.

He resigned as minister and moved to the crossbench after he was expelled from the Liberal Party in 2021, and has recontested his Kiama seat in the recent NSW election as an independent.

The seat of Kiama is still being fought out by Mr Ward and Labor’s Katelin McInerney, with less than 800 votes between the two as of Tuesday morning.

Even if Mr Ward retains the seat, his future prospects in parliament remain uncertain.

Premier-elect Chris Minns has confirmed he will not let Mr Ward enter parliament, even if elected.

When asked about Mr Ward’s potential future in parliament later on Tuesday, Mr Minns said he would make a “decision and an announcement when the poll has been declared,” and hoped Labor candidate Katelin McInerney could still claim the seat.

Previously both him and then-premier Dominic Perrottet said Mr Ward would remain suspended while facing charges of sexual assault in court.

“I’m conscious of the fact there’s a criminal trial that began today,” he said. “I’m not going to make a comment about it specifically.

”I’m going to wait for the poll to be declared and I’m very hopeful that the Labor candidate in that electorate will be elected.”

Mr Ward will face court on Monday for an application to change the location of the trial.

Originally published as Gareth Ward to stand trial over charges of sexual intercourse without consent, assault