NSW MP Gareth Ward charged with sexual violence; Premier seeks his exit from parliament

The NSW Premier says Gareth Ward is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but is facing serious allegations.

NSW MP Gareth Ward. Picture: AAP

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has called on former cabinet minister Gareth Ward to immediately resign from parliament after he was charged with sexual assault offences allegedly perpetrated against a teenage boy and adult male.

Mr Perrottet, who is on leave, issued a statement on Tuesday in the hours after police confirmed the MP would appear in court in May to answer the allegations, vowing to move a motion seeking his expulsion if he did not resign voluntarily.

The charges include three counts of assault with an act of ­indecency, and one count each of sexual intercourse without consent and common assault.

Police will allege that Mr Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow, a suburb in the Shoalhaven region of NSW, in February 2013, and that he sex­ually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney during September 2015. Mr Perrottet said the move to charge Mr Ward followed an ­extensive investigation conducted by NSW police, which began in May 2021, as well as a review of the matter by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Australian understands the brief of evidence was sent back to detectives by the DPP on at least one occasion in order to ­strengthen the quality of the case.

It is understood statements have also been taken from some members of parliament.

“While Mr Ward is entitled to the presumption of innocence, as any citizen is, the standards ­expected of an elected member of parliament are not compatible with the seriousness of the charges he is facing,” the Premier said.

“Following discussion with the Acting Premier, I have therefore attempted to contact the Kiama MP to seek his resignation from the parliament with immediate ­effect. Should Mr Ward not resign, the government will move a ­motion to remove him from the parliament.”

Since the allegations first ­became public last year, Mr Ward has sat on the crossbench as an ­independent MP.

Mr Perrottet said he had also written to the state director of the NSW Liberal Party requesting Mr Ward be suspended pending the outcome of the matter.

Should Mr Ward resign or be forced to leave parliament, it will trigger a by-election in the seat of Kiama, the loss of which would take the government further into minority in parliament. Mr Ward has a 12 per cent margin in the seat.

Some Labor officials said they remained cautiously optimistic about taking back the seat, which was held by the party until Mr Ward’s election in 2011. A popular local MP, he extended the seat’s margin in 2015, and again in 2019.

Mr Ward, 39, a former minister for families and community services, did not respond to a request for comment but issued a statement emphatically denying any wrongdoing and vowing to defend himself against the allegations. He was granted bail to appear in Port Kembla Local Court on May 18.

“While I strongly support the right of genuine victims to bring forward alle­gations, accused persons equally are entitled to the ­presumption of innocence, have the right to refute allegations made against them, and should be allowed the opportunity to defend themselves from claims that are simply untrue,” he said.

“I am innocent and I intend to prove it.

“I have instructed my ­lawyers to use every available procedural avenue to bring this matter to trial as quickly as possible.”