NSW MP and former state Liberal minister Gareth Ward has pleaded not responsible to sexual offending in opposition to a teenage boy and a person.
Police allege Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow on NSW’s south coast in February 2013 and raped a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015.
He has been charged with 5 felony offenses together with sexual activity with out consent, three counts of assault with indecency, and customary assault which is another cost to one of many indecency costs.
The impartial politician was arraigned at Nowra District Courtroom on Tuesday the place he pleaded not responsible to all counts.
The matter has been adjourned to Downing Middle District Courtroom on April three whereas Ward’s bail continues.
The previous Liberal minister was dumped from the occasion and suspended from parliament a yr in the past following the fees and recontested the seat of Kiama as an impartial MP.
Suspended members are excluded from parliamentary precincts and prohibited from taking part in the home or committees below a separate standing order.
A parliamentary committee final Might advisable Ward maintain his wage and citizens workplace till a courtroom determines whether or not he’s responsible, arguing the crossbencher is entitled to a presumption of innocence.
In line with the most recent numbers from the ABC, Labor candidate Katelin McInerney has pulled forward of Ward by about 700 votes. However Ms McInerney’s lead is shortly slipping away and ABC’s chief election analyst Antony Inexperienced says the seat will probably fall to the impartial.
