Man told he was ‘exaggerating’ after allegedly being sexually assaulted by Kiama MP Gareth Ward

A man who has accused an MP of sexual assault was allegedly told he was “exaggerating” when he mentioned it to a colleague.

A parliamentary associate who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him was allegedly told he was “exaggerating” when coming forward to another staffer.

The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward is on trial for sexual assault. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Ward arrived at the Downing Centre District Court on Friday and sat in the docks for the third week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC.

A parliamentary associate who worked with the complainant, who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, took the stand to give evidence.

The staffer said the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had told him years after the alleged rape that Mr Ward had “done something” to him.

“I still can’t remember the full detail of the conversation but I remember the emotion of the conversation,” the man told the court.

The man said the complainant was “emotional” during their conversation, but he believed that he was “exaggerating”.

“I remember saying that I felt that whatever it was that (the complainant) was saying that he was exaggerating what he was saying, but I can’t recall more details than that,” he said.

“I can remember that being my immediate reaction to it … and I remember being dismissive of what he was saying.”

The witness added that he “didn’t know” why he didn’t take any action after the conversation, only that he had “blocked the whole thing” out of his memory.

The witness was then quizzed in cross-examination by solicitor Edward Anderson about the details of an event at Parliament House on the night of the alleged rape.

The man told the court that he couldn’t remember a lot of specific details and exactly who he saw on the night but explained that “everything that could go wrong” at the event “went wrong”.

His cross-examination is expected to continue on Friday afternoon.

Mr Ward (centre) was described in court as ‘an incredible local member’. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

In court on Wednesday, the alleged victim told the court that he was “concerned” that making a report to police would “cause problems for Mr Ward”.

“I believe Mr Ward is an incredible local member … just because he did these things to me does not mean he is a bad person,” the man said.

He had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward’s apartment.

There, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss the man on Mr Ward’s balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said “no”.

Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told.

The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man’s buttocks before he was told to stop.

Without warning, it’s alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated the man before kissing his neck and masturbating.

The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told.

The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022.

In her opening address two weeks ago, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013.

Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since.

The trial before a 15-person jury continues.

Originally published as Man told he was ‘exaggerating’ after allegedly being sexually assaulted by Kiama MP Gareth Ward