A New South Wales (NSW) politician, Gareth Ward, has been convicted of sexually assaulting two young men in Australia. The 44-year-old independent MP for Kiama was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape by a jury at the Downing Centre District Court.
The incidents occurred between 2013 and 2015, when Ward invited the victims to his home after meeting them through political circles. One victim, an 18-year-old man, alleged that Ward indecently assaulted him three times despite his attempts to resist. The other victim, a 24-year-old political staffer, claimed Ward raped him after an event at parliament.
Ward argued that the 2015 rape didn’t happen and that the other complainant was misremembering their encounter from 2013. However, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles emphasized the striking similarities in the accounts of the two men, stating, “Similar behaviour, similar setting, same man, same conclusion. This is not a coincidence.”
The jury deliberated for three days after hearing nine weeks of evidence in the NSW District Court. Ward will return to court later this year to be sentenced. Notably, Ward resigned as a state government minister and from the Liberal Party when the accusations emerged in 2021 but refused to leave parliament and was re-elected as the member for Kiama in 2023.
The NSW government had previously considered voting to expel Ward from parliament but was advised that it could risk prejudicing his trial. Ward has been a state MP since 2011.
The conviction of Gareth Ward, a member of the New South Wales parliament, has sent shockwaves through Australia’s political landscape. Ward’s guilty verdict on three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape stems from incidents involving two young men who met him through political circles. The victims, aged 18 and 24 at the time, alleged they were assaulted at Ward’s home between 2013 and 2015. This case highlights the need for accountability and transparency in politics, ensuring that those in power are held to high standards of integrity and respect for the law.
The case has sparked discussions about the handling of sexual assault allegations within institutions and the importance of supporting survivors. Ward’s resignation from his ministerial role and the Liberal Party following the allegations in 2021, yet his decision to remain in parliament, has raised questions about the priorities of political parties and the values they uphold.
As Ward awaits sentencing, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and maintaining public trust in the political system. This incident also underscores the relevance of tracking politicians’ legal issues, as seen in lists documenting Australian politicians convicted of crimes.