Inside the halls of power five years ago, a NSW parliamentary staffer wrestled with the decision to share a painful secret that could destroy the impressive career of a state MP.
Hesitation stemmed from two burning questions. Would he be believed? And what would it mean for his professional future?
Gareth James Ward departs Darlinghurst Court in Sydney after being found guilty of sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault. Credit: Dylan Coker
Confidence in a worthwhile outcome was crucial before making a serious allegation against Gareth Ward, the MP for the South Coast seat of Kiama, who was then a minister during Gladys Berejiklian’s second term as premier.
Buried deep in the staffer’s memory was one night in September 2015, when the 44-year-old had sexual intercourse without consent with the then-24-year-old, after inviting him back to his Potts Point apartment following an event at NSW Parliament House.
On Friday, a jury found Ward guilty of digitally raping the 24-year-old and separately indecently assaulting an 18-year-old man two years earlier.
The older complainant had met Ward a few times in passing before the exchange that changed everything, the man told the NSW District Court during Ward’s nine-week trial.
Having had three to four glasses of wine at the parliament event – quite a lot for him at the time – the staffer was approached by Ward while attempting to organise a long taxi home. Ward invited him back to his apartment, mere walking distance away.
For years, the complainants were too afraid to speak out against the then-Liberal MP and minister.Credit: Jessica Hromas
Accepting the offer, the man was showered with compliments about his work as they walked. His discomfort grew as the a “little too gracious” words continued at Ward’s apartment, the man told the court. Ward poured him more alcohol and tried to kiss him. At first, he rebuffed Ward, but briefly accepted a second kiss before saying he wanted to sleep.
The man thought he had been taken to a spare room, Ward unexpectedly got into bed with him and digitally penetrated him while masturbating. He said “stop” and Ward eventually did so.
As he struggled to fall asleep, the staffer began blaming himself. What had given Ward the sense that he was open to that? Should he have pushed him off, protested more loudly, or gone home sooner?
The combination of feeling “down, dirty and confused” was compounded in the morning by Ward continuing to compliment him, remarking he’d drunk too much, and promising that if he stuck by him, he’d “take care of him”.
This striking power imbalance in part explained why he took years to speak of the rape.
Later that year, he found himself alone with Ward at an event and the night of the abuse came up. The jury heard Ward told him they’d both drank too much, but he was sorry if he made him uncomfortable. Taking this as an apology, the man tried to believe it was “a mistake” and put it behind him. He wanted to protect the Liberal Party; his career was there. He’d described Ward as “fearful”. How could he go to the police?
Following that night, Ward was “always very nice”, the man testified. It felt safer for his job to remain friendly.
During cross-examination, the defence pressed him on messages sent in which he called Ward “love” and “darl”, but he said he often used these terms with friends and colleagues and turned to complimenting and “overcompensating” because he was scared for his job.
However, as he grappled with ongoing pain and confusion, he drafted an email with the allegations to the premier’s office in 2019. He didn’t follow through, worried it wouldn’t be confidential. If the accusations were not handled appropriately, he feared risking humiliation. The 24-year-old also admitted he congratulated Ward with a message including a “champagne” emoji after he was returned to parliament at the 2019 election and that he even applied for a job with him.
When the defence claimed these actions contradicted “fearing” the politician, the man explained he’d recently lost his job and was drowning financially. Confusingly, he still considered Ward a “fabulous” local member.
Despite his best efforts to move on, the burden of secrecy eventually became too much, and he confided in a federal parliament staffer in early 2021 that Ward had touched him inappropriately. Shockingly, she told him he was not alone – she’d heard of a similar allegation regarding another man which police were investigating.
Position of power: Ward was a minister in Gladys Berejiklian’s government before the men came forward.Credit: Louise Kennerley
As he opened up, he began to realise just how much the crime had impacted him. He agreed for the staffer to pass his number onto the police.
Crown Prosecutor Monika Knowles told the jury, “as part of human experience, you know that there are some things you can’t just put behind you, no matter how hard you try”.
She asked them to try to understand the “confusing and challenging” positions both victims found themselves in.
“There are no hard and fast rules for how people should behave after something happens to them by someone they know they are friends with; someone who is in a position of power in comparison to them,” she said.
“What happened to them was carried out by a person who they perceived carried a real potential to impact their lives.”
The power, influence and charm that Ward emitted at the time also influenced the 18-year-man’s decision to stay quiet for years, the court heard.
An effective local MP and soon-to-be minister: Ward with former premier Mike Baird in 2015.Credit: GREG TOTMAN
While not directly employed in politics, the 18-year-old felt “excited … validated [and] important” when he met Ward at a networking event and learned the MP was interested in working with him in 2013.
“I was 17 at that point … I thought he was, you know, a very well-known public figure,” he testified.
Like the 24-year-old, Ward invited the 18-year-old back to his home – this one, in Meroo Meadow in Shoalhaven – after the young man had an argument with his girlfriend at a party.
The young man played a prank, pretending to be passed out the grass, when Ward walked outside and slid his hands into the man’s shorts. He touched his buttocks and genitals while the man froze in shock, the court heard.
When the man said he wanted to sleep, Ward followed him into the bedroom and assaulted him again while giving him a lower back massage.
Like the first victim, the 18-year-old said he maintained contact with Ward afterwards due to fear of his power, shame and concern over career prospects.
He turned to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, and only began realising the lasting impacts of the assault upon getting sober.
With a clearer mind, and after learning that the then-Liberal politician had been appointed a role that involved child protection – minister for families, communities and disability services – he could no longer remain silent.
Ward pictured in his office in 2018.Credit: Brook MItchell
“I felt basically a vampire was running the blood bank,” he said.
“I felt it was inappropriate that he held that role … I was very scared of what that would involve.”
The man reported the assaults to police in November 2020 after contacting Youtuber Jordan Shanks, known as FriendlyJordies, and his producer, as well as an ABC journalist. The court heard they encouraged him to go to the police.
Knowles told the jury that in sexual assault cases, a delay in complaining does not mean the crime did not happen, and there are often good reasons why victims hesitate to come forward.
Ward’s trial shone a light on many of those concerns, which only became heightened by the ruthless world of politics and power.
If you need support, you can contact 1800RESPECT, the 24-hour national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service, on 1800 737 732.
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