NSW Liberal MP Gareth Ward accused of having ‘problem with women’

Gareth Ward has been accused of intimidating behaviour, in a letter to the NSW Premier that was read to parliament.

NSW MP Gareth Ward has been accused in parliament of having a problem with women. Picture: Facebook

NSW Liberal MP Gareth Ward — who has been accused by federal MP Ann Sudmalis of bullying — has been accused of having problems with women and “anger management issues” in correspondence to Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed by the Opposition in Question Time today.

Shellharbour MP Anna Watson asked Ms Berejiklian if she was aware of the correspondence, sent by web form to her office, from a woman, who wished to remain anonymous, from the Dapto residents group.

Ms Berejiklian said she had not sighted the correspondence and expected all MPs to behave appropriately.

The letter, sent on June 29, is headlined: “Intimidating behaviour from Gareth Ward Liberal MP towards myself”.

It states: “Dear Premier, I attended a meeting on 25th June at The Ribbonwood Centre Dapto to meet with CSNSW [Corrective Services NSW] regarding the proposal to build a gaol at Kembla Grange.

“Mr Gareth Ward Liberal MP arrived an hour or so into the meeting. I was standing with several women and he approached smiling.

“One lady said ‘You’re late’ and he replied that he had other commitments and wasn’t just going to drop everything to be here.

“He then asked ‘So where is your Labor MP?’ with a smirk and was told by a few — ‘over there, she’s been here for ages’.

“Conversation commenced regarding the gaol, petition, etc and he commented on what we were doing to stop it.

“I asked him what he was doing to stop it (he had recently changed his stance from for the gaol to undecided but definitely not wanting it in his electorate of Kiama).

“I thought it was a reasonable question and it WASN’T attacking in any way. Mr Ward started to yell at me, leaned in over me in a manner that I found intimidating, yelling that I was rude.

“His verbal attack took me off guard and I was stunned and missed part of what he was saying as I could only see his snarling face!

“His words to me were spoken with utter contempt.

“I was left shaking and trying not to appear upset (which is very difficult when you want to cry!)

“He then turned away from me and continued on discussing the gaol, ignoring me (thankfully).

“I did not expect to be verbally abused and would never have gone had I known anything like this could occur.

“This Liberal MP has anger management issues, no concept of appropriate behaviour (for any employee, let alone an MP, appears to have an issue with women and is having a hugely negative impact on voters. I was a Liberal voter for years, as were my parents. I will not vote liberal now as any party who would employee someone like this has major problems.

“I DO have a witness willing to verify this incident and she herself had a worse experience with Gareth Ward the day prior to this at the community march.”

Comment is being sought from Mr Ward.

Mr Ward denied the claim in the letter in a personal explanation after Question Time.

“I deny emphatically the claim I yelled or bullied anyone at that meeting,” Mr Ward said.

“That’s simply not true; I wouldn’t do that.”

Mr Ward has denied bullying Ms Sudmalis and has said he himself was subject to bullying at school as a result of his Albinism.

An electorate officer for Mr Ward, Nick Cusack, posted on Facebook that because of the allegations against Mr Ward, who holds his seat by 8.6 per cent, phone canvassing would begin tomorrow for the MP.

“Hey team, as most of you have heard by now, the last 24 hours haven’t been ideal to say the least,” Mr Cusack wrote.

“As a result it is vital that we rally around Gareth and ensure that locals know the truth, that their local member always has and will continue to be an advocate for the people, does best for his community and will get the job done.

“If you have any questions, concerns or inquiries, please flick myself or Calvin a message. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow and unwinding after over a few drinks.”