Gareth Ward has resigned from his seat in the New South Wales Parliament after being found guilty of sex offences. The former MP's legal battle continues as he considers an appeal.

New South Wales

Gareth Ward, the former Member for Kiama in the New South Wales Parliament, has resigned after a jury found him guilty of sexual offences, including sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault. The Parliament was prepared to expel him for the first time in over a century, following a legal challenge by Ward's lawyers.

Ward, who served as Minister for Families, Disabilities and Communities and later as an Independent, was convicted after a nine-week trial. Despite his conviction and resignation, Ward may seek to appeal the decision, and if successful, could run for his seat again. Some community members have expressed continued support for Ward.

Gareth Ward resigns from NSW Parliament following conviction

Two weeks since a 12-person jury unanimously found Gareth Ward to be guilty of sex offences, he's gone from Parliament. I received a letter from Gareth James Ward resigning his seat as a member for the Electoral District of Kiama. The Parliament was ready to expel him, a move it hadn't made in 107 years after winning a legal fight against Ward's lawyers. What the member for Kiama has done in the last couple of weeks, playing games with his constituents and the general public, is disgraceful. A lot of time, effort and energy was spent in the NSW Supreme Court. Gareth Ward was an MP for 14 years, serving as the Minister for Families, Disabilities and Communities in the Berrigicklian Government, leaving the Liberals and becoming an Independent when the allegations first came to light. If there is a fight that needs to be had about this issue, then Mr Speaker, bring it on. After being charged with the sex offences in 2022, Ward was defiant. I'm looking forward to not just winning this case, but winning the election as well. He was right on one front, the people of Kiama voting him back in. And they believed him and they trusted him, and that I think is probably one of the most shameful exercises in the history of NSW politics. Throughout his nine-week trial, he told us... I can guarantee that I'll have a lot more to say once it's finished. Certainly not the case when he was convicted of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault. Gareth Ward has been stripped of his seat and salary, but his legal battle is not over. If he is successful in appealing his conviction, he may choose to run for the seat again and is able to do so. More than a few locals saying he was a tremendous representative. We don't know anyone in this community that's got a bad word to say against him, to be honest, that's true. Despite it all, vowing to stick by him.

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