Gareth Ward, the Member for Kiama, will be faced with dealing with a lot of problems now that he has been found guilty of sex crimes. Ward, a well-known politician in New South Wales for a long time, was found guilty of several sex crimes, such as indecent assault and having sex without consent. He has since said that he will appeal. The wheels of the legal system keep turning, and the NSW parliament is getting prepared to take an unprecedented step to kick him out of his job. This blog goes into more detail about Ward’s conviction, how he reacted, and how Parliament replied. It also talks about what the future holds for the disgraced MP.
Big Update: Gareth Ward Loses Legal Fight
Gareth Ward’s Appeal – A Shock and a Plan for What Comes Next
Gareth Ward’s conviction has shaken up both politics and the public. The long-time Kiama MP, who utilised to be a well-known member of the NSW Liberal Party, is now the focus of a high-profile criminal case. Ward was found guilty of several sexual crimes, such as:
- Three counts of sexual assault.
- One charge of having sex without consent.
The charges centred on events which occurred in 2013 and 2015 and involved two young men. One incident happened at Ward’s home in Meroo Meadow, and the other happened at his home in Potts Point after a party at Parliament House.
Ward was deeply sorry after the verdict and said he was “absolutely shattered” by the jury’s decision. Ward has said that he plans to appeal the decision, which means he will keep fighting the charges in court.
What did Ward do which rendered him guilty?
Ward was found guilty of two different sexual assaults. The first one happened in 2013 with an 18-year-old man, and the second one happened in 2015 with a 24-year-old man.
- The 2013 Incident: Ward was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old man at his Meroo Meadow home.
- The 2015 Incident: After a meeting at Parliament House, Ward was found guilty of electronically raping a 24-year-old man at his Potts Point home.
The jury found Ward guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of having sex without consent. The conviction has had a big effect on politics.
Ward’s answer – Broken and Ready to Appeal
After the verdict, Ward said he felt a mix of shock and sadness. In a statement from his office, he said that the conviction was very serious and that it had a big effect on his family, his career, and his reputation.
- Ward thanked everyone who had helped him during the trial, especially his family and his community.
- Ward said that he had told his lawyers to get began on an appeal right away, considering that the jury had already made a decision.
He quickly chose to file an appeal after the guilty verdict, which shows that he didn’t want to accept the consequences of the conviction without taking more legal action. Ward’s appeal will be one of the most significant events to watch in the next few months as his lawyers and parliament try to figure out how to deal with his case.
What the Parliament Did – Getting Ready to Kick Him Out
The NSW parliament is also doing a thing while Ward gets ready for his legal battle. Both the Labour Party and the Coalition have said they want to kick Ward out of Parliament after he proved guilty. This action will happen when the Legislative Assembly meets again next week.
- Legal Advice: Premier Chris Minns said that the NSW government had gotten legal advice saying that the Lower House has the power to remove Ward from office, even though an appeal is still going on. The legal basis for this choice is “unworthy conduct,” which means actions that damage the integrity of the parliamentary system.
- Gareth Ward’s Position: Under NSW law, an MP’s seat becomes empty if they are found guilty of a crime that carries a prison sentence of five years or more. But this process can wait until the appeal process is over.
Even though there is a lot of pressure on Ward to step downward, both Premier Chris Minns and Liberal Leader Mark Speakman have publicly asked him to do so, but Ward has not done so. People in Kiama, where he represents, have also said they want him to step down because of the serious nature of his opinions and the damage they have done to the parliament’s integrity.
A Long Road Ahead for Gareth Ward’s Political Career
Ward has been the Member for Kiama since 2011, and he was able to keep that job despite being charged in 2023. Ward won the 2023 state election even though there was a big swing against him. He kept his job even though he was still having legal problems.
Ward has had a number of important events in his political career:
- Ward was first elected in 2011. He first got attention for his work as a member of the Liberal Party, which influenced the political landscape of NSW.
- Ward won the election even though he was facing legal problems. This shows how strong his support base is in Kiama. But his criminal conviction has now made it extremely difficult for him to get this support.
Ward could be kicked out of Parliament, but what will happen to his political career? Ward’s ability to keep his seat is in doubt because of the urgency of the charges and legal issues that are coming up.
What Does the Law Say About Legal Issues?
The NSW constitution says that MPs who are found guilty of crimes that carry a sentence of five years or more are automatically disqualified from holding office. Ward’s case is different, though, because he plans to appeal the conviction.
- Ward’s seat in Parliament stays unchanged while the appeal is going on. The process of kicking him out of Parliament will be put on hold until the appeal is over.
- The Legal Advice: The NSW government has received legal advice saying that Parliament can kick Ward out for misconduct, even while his appeal is still going on.
Because of all the legal problems, Ward’s future as an MP will probably stay up in the air for a while.
Ward’s custody and upcoming sentencing
Ward was arrested on July 30, 2025, after Judge Kara Shead took away his bail. He is currently in Silverwater Prison on remand, waiting for his sentencing hearing, which is set for September 2025.
- Bail Revocation: After Ward proved guilty, his bail was revoked, which changed his legal situation in a big way.
- Sentencing: The sentencing hearing will decide how long Ward will have to spend in prison. This could make his political and personal future even more complicated.
How it affects Kiama and public opinion
People in Kiama have been very clear about their want Ward to step down from his job. Ward’s constituents have asked him to resign so that people can trust the local parliamentary system again. His office is closed.
- Public Opinion: The public outcry over Ward’s behaviour has made things even harder for the disgraced MP in the community.
- Calls for Accountability: As the parliamentary session gets closer, both politicians and residents are calling for Ward to be held liable. They are asking how the parliament can continue to work with such serious accusations against a sitting MP.
In conclusion, this is a dark time for politics in New South Wales
The story of Gareth Ward’s conviction has shaken up the politics of New South Wales. The NSW Parliament is already working to kick the Kiama MP out of his job while he gets ready to appeal his conviction. Ward’s future in both the NSW Parliament and the Kiama electorate is still up in the air, with calls for accountability coming from all sides.
As Ward confronts the effects of what he did, the political fallout keeps taking place. We don’t know if he will be able to keep his seat in Parliament or how his appeal will go in court. This case will probably be remembered as a turning point in NSW politics, regardless of the outcome. It will have big effects on both Ward and the political community as a whole.
