An Australian politician, Gareth Ward, convicted of rape, is fighting to retain his position in the New South Wales (NSW) state parliament from behind bars. This month, Ward was found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men, aged 18 and 24, at his residence between 2013 and 2015. Now incarcerated and awaiting sentencing, he has refused to resign, prompting the parliament to consider his expulsion this week.
Lawyers representing the 44-year-old, who plans to appeal the conviction, are seeking an injunction to prevent his removal at a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Thursday. NSW Premier Chris Minns voiced strong opposition to Ward's attempts to remain in office, emphasizing the "unconscionable" nature of a convicted rapist demanding to stay on the parliament's payroll while incarcerated. Minns reiterated that resigning was the "first and most obvious choice."
Opposition leader Mark Speakman added his voice to the growing calls for Ward to step aside, criticizing the situation as offensive and claiming that taxpayers are unjustly supporting a member who is currently in jail. "Every day he clings to his seat from a jail cell, taxpayers are footing the bill and the people of Kiama are left voiceless," Speakman stated.
Ward expressed his devastation after the jury's verdict but noted his intention to appeal through a statement released before his bail was revoked. Since the allegations emerged in 2021, he has resigned from the state government and his former Liberal Party membership but chose to continue representing Kiama, re-elected in 2023.
The NSW government had previously considered a vote to expel Ward, but legal counsel advised that such an action could unjustly influence or prejudice his trial. If successful in his expulsion, it would set in motion a by-election in the coastal town of Kiama, potentially within weeks. Ward is set to be sentenced next month for three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape.
