NSW MP Gareth Ward

2022 - 3 - 22

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

NSW government will move to suspend, not expel, MP Gareth Ward ... (The Guardian)

Coalition to move to suspend Kiama MP on Thursday after sexual abuse charges laid.

The government on Wednesday suggested it had not been considering expelling Ward despite Perrottet’s earlier statement. Toole denied that on Wednesday, saying there had “been no pushback” from within the government’s ranks. The advice also stated there was a risk Ward could argue a court “should decline to exercise jurisdiction” in the matter if parliament “purports to exercise jurisdiction”. But on Wednesday, the government changed tack. Many criminal cases take a really long time.” That advice, tabled by the government on Wednesday, states there was a “significant risk” that any move to expel Ward from the parliament would lead to a “temporary or permanent stay of criminal proceedings” against Ward.

Gareth Ward faces vote of suspension from NSW Parliament after ... (The Sydney Morning Herald)

The NSW parliament will support a government motion to suspend Liberal turned Independent Gareth Ward from parliament until a jury verdict is returned on ...

Mr Toole said the motion would not be debated to protect the rights of alleged victims. Get it here. Mr Toole said the house did not have the power to withhold a member’s salary but the government had sought advice on withholding a suspended member’s remuneration and entitlements.

Embattled MP Gareth Ward will remain in NSW Parliament (The West Australian)

The former Liberal frontbencher is facing three charges of alleged historic sexual assault involving two males – one of them a 17-year-old boy. Mr Ward has ...

Originally published as Embattled MP Gareth Ward will remain in NSW Parliament Gareth Ward will remain in the NSW Parliament despite the Premier demanding his expulsion. Embattled MP Gareth Ward will remain in NSW Parliament

NSW MP to be suspended from parliament (Eden Magnet)

The NSW government will move to suspend former Liberal MP Gareth Ward from parliament after he was charged...

NSW parliament to vote on suspension of MP Gareth Ward after ... (ABC News)

Acting Premier Paul Toole moves a motion in the NSW parliament to suspend Kiama MP Gareth Ward until indecent and sexual assault charges against him are ...

Mr Perrottet said yesterday that he had written to the Liberal Party's state director asking that Mr Ward be suspended from the party pending the outcome of the case. Mr Ward resigned from the Liberal ministry and moved to the crossbench in May last year after it was revealed he was being investigated by police. The Acting Premier said the government was seeking advice on whether it could strip Mr Ward of his $169,000 a year salary, as well as allowances and entitlements.

NSW MP Gareth Ward charged over historical sexual assaults (OUTinPerth)

On Tuesday the former Liberal Minister was charged with thee counts of assault with an act of intimacy, one one count each of sexual intercourse without consent ...

The government said legal advice had advised that a complete expulsion from parliament may prejudice the trial. “Accordingly, I will be making no further comment at this time.” The Premier also indicated he’d made moves to suspend Ward’s party membership. “Should Mr Ward not resign, the Government will move a motion to remove him from the Parliament.” Perrottet said, taking a break from his own paternity leave to address the issue. “While Mr Ward is entitled to the presumption of innocence, as any citizen is, the standards expected of an elected Member of Parliament are not compatible with the seriousness of the charges he is facing,” Perrottet said yesterday. Ward was previously a Minister in the Berejiklian Government but resigned from his position and moved to the cross-bench when it was revealed he was the subject of an investigation.