Gareth Ward

Former NSW Liberal MP Gareth Ward has said he is “confident I will prove my innocence” and win his case after he formally pleaded not guilty to historical ...

When asked about Mr Ward’s potential future in parliament later on Tuesday, Mr Minns said he would make a “decision and an announcement when the poll has been declared,” and hoped Labor candidate Katelin McInerney could still claim the seat. Mr Ward said it is a “human right” rather than an “optional extra”. Former NSW Liberal MP Gareth Ward has said he is “confident I will prove my innocence” and win his case after he formally pleaded not guilty to historical sexual and indecent assault allegations.

NSW MP and former state Liberal minister Gareth Ward has pleaded not guilty to sexual offending against a t...

According to the latest count, Labor candidate Katelin McInerney has pulled ahead of Ward by about 700 votes. [dumped from the party and suspended from parliament](https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-mp-gareth-ward-suspended-from-parliament-after-historical-sexual-abuse-charges/a27e3c8d-268a-4171-b8d5-1b556f9d4e97)a year ago following the charges and [recontested the seat of Kiama as an independent MP](https://www.9news.com.au/national/former-liberal-minister-gareth-ward-will-stand-for-reelection-despite-being-charged-with-sexual-and-indecent-assault/b995257b-5887-44c7-a041-67e28930b6ce). [has been charged with five criminal offences](https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-mp-gareth-ward-charged-over-historical-sexual-abuse-allegations/a6957228-dea2-40b8-952c-bf2f9651d2cb)including sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with indecency, and common assault which is an alternative charge to one of the indecency charges.

The Kiama Independent MP was represented by solicitor Robert Foster. District Court Judge Christopher O'Brien rejected an application by the Defence to excuse ...

Mr Ward said " I would say something though about the presumption of innocence. Speaking to the media outside court Mr Ward said. "There is a lot of things I would like to say about this case but I think that you know I am prohibited from saying what I would like to say but today I have entered not guilty pleas to all of the charges that have been laid before the court and I am incredibly confident that I will prove my innocence when given the opportunity.

Inside sources say Mr Ward will win once the remaining votes come in. Meantime, he prepares to plead...

For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit. Mr Ward has questioned what the attempt to keep a recently elected MP out of parliament says about the presumption of innocence. In the lead up to the election, both Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns said they would not accept his vote if they needed it to form government, and also pledged to continue his ban in parliament until the criminal proceedings are finalised. The Liberal Party's last minute decision to stand dumped MP Melanie Gibbons in the seat also played a role in splitting the conservative vote. He entered not guilty pleas in the Local Court in August and was committed to stand trial in the District Court, where he was arraigned on Tuesday.

Former Liberal MP Gareth Ward has pleaded not guilty to sexual and indecent assault allegations on the same day he edged closer to retaining his state ...

The NSW state parliament seat of Kiama is still being fought out by Ward (pictured) and Labor's Katelin McInerney, with Ward leading by around 600 votes as of Tuesday afternoon The seat of Kiama is still being fought out by Ward and Labor's Katelin McInerney, with Ward leading by around 600 votes as of Tuesday afternoon. Former Liberal MP Gareth Ward (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to sexual and indecent assault allegations on the same day he moved closer to retaining his state parliament seat

Liberal turned independent Kiama MP Gareth Ward is closing in on Labor candidate Katelin McInerney's lead after a batch of pre-poll votes favoured the ...

Mr Ward, who has held the seat since he won it off Labor in 2011, is currently leading the primary vote with 38.5 per cent. The 41-year-old has strenuously denied the allegations and is due to appear in court today, where he is expected to formally enter pleas to five charges. - Incoming Premier Chris Minns has indicated he would support a move to suspend Mr Ward if he is re-elected

Leading constitutional lawyer Anne Twomey says suspending independent MP Gareth Ward from NSW parliament could be seen as defying the wishes of voters.

I think that will be good for the parliament.” She received a primary vote of 11 per cent, which left her only just ahead of the Greens candidate Tonia Gray. Minns on Tuesday ruled out negotiating with Ward if Labor is in minority government and needs to rely on crossbench support. [Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here](/link/follow-20170101-p5apym). We’re still very hopeful and I think in the commanding position to win that seat. The former minister was suspended from parliament last year after he was charged with historical sexual assault, which he denies.

The ABC has called the seat for the independent MP, who has pleaded not guilty to sexual and indecent assault charges.

“It certainly affects the proper function of parliament because it means a seat in the community is not represented in parliament,” he said. Ward was arraigned at Nowra district court on Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty to all counts. I am not going to make comment about it specifically.” In February, Ward revealed he would contest the seat, which he had held for the “I’m conscious that there’s a criminal trial that has begun today. Asked about the predicament on Tuesday afternoon, Minns said his government would not negotiate with Ward and he would not “backtrack”.

ABC chief elections analyst Antony Green says Liberal-turned-independent MP Gareth Ward will win the seat of Kiama, in a major blow to Labor's hopes of ...

Labor won't need the support of the Greens MPs to get its legislation through the lower house. It means MP Eleni Petinos has held the seat. He also polled 48.6 per cent of the first preference vote in the 2,200 postal votes already counted," Green says. Greens talked about holding "the balance of power" with Labor in a minority government. Will come down to postal votes (which are likely to favour the Liberal candidate). It has been at 0.3% for the past couple of days. It seems like Ryde has been very stable for the Labor Party. You can see the Greens primary vote has gone down by about 0.8 per cent over the past four elections. Now before anyone jumps down my throat, I'm not saying that if One Nation had candidates in all 93 seats, they would have had a similar primary vote to The Greens. and its share in the LC? Why cannot postal votes have a deadline receipt date a couple of days out from the main election day and what is to stop these particular voting papers now being completed AFTER the election as the deadline for receipt is not until 6 April. How is the One Nation 1st preference in L.A.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward leads by a few hundred votes as his court case on rape and indecent assault continues.

He has been charged with five criminal offences including sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with indecency, and common assault which ...

Ward was first elected to the seat on the South Coast in 2011 as a Liberal candidate. The seat of Miranda was called for the Liberal Party earlier today. Because of the charges, he is prohibited from participating in the house or committees. [more ballots are counted in the seat of Kiama](https://www.9news.com.au/nsw-election-results), Ward is gaining ground over Labor challenger Katelin McInerney. He has been charged with five criminal offences including sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of assault with indecency, and common assault which is an alternative charge to one of the indecency charges. Ward currently has a lead on two-party preferred votes of 50.8 per cent to 49.2 per cent to McInerney.

NSW independent candidate Gareth Ward has retained the seat of Kiama after he was ousted from the Liberal party over historic sexual assault charges.

I received no preferences from any party, and I was deeply disappointed with the smear campaign by Unions NSW. I dare say many decent union members would be disgusted if they knew how their union fees were being spent.” In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Ward said he was looking forward to “continuing to work hard and get results” as the MP for Kiama, while Ms McInerney conceded Labor would “not get across the line”.

Labor's Katelin McInerney has called her political opponent Gareth Ward to concede the seat of Kiama, after he gained a lead she couldn't overcome as the ...

For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit. She said she believed there was a "feeling of wanting change in the hearts and minds of people". "While we will not get across the line in Kiama, I am glad that the people of NSW voted for a fresh start and I look forward to a new Labor government delivering for our community." "After a long campaign, I am looking forward to spending some time with my family and continuing to advocate for my community to make sure we get the fresh start we deserve." "I put my hand up to run for the seat of Kiama to make sure that my son William and kids just like him could grow up in the best future possible."

Former Liberal Minister Gareth Ward is predicted to be the newly installed Member for Kiama. ABC's Election Analyst Antony Green has predicted Gareth Ward ...

Professor Twomey, who advised the NSW government on Gareth Ward's suspension last year, told Melinda James its a complex decision with only one other member suspended from NSW parliament, back in 1906 With the Perrottet Government moving a motion to suspend Mr Ward after he refused to resign. The motion passed the lower house without any opposition.