The NSW authorities is contemplating referring unbiased MP Gareth Ward to the privileges committee after he was re-elected because the consultant for Kiama whereas preventing sexual assault costs.
The previous Liberal minister has pleaded not responsible to 5 prison offenses together with sexual activity with out consent, three counts of assault with indecency and customary assault.
He has been dedicated to face trial within the NSW District Court docket and was beforehand arraigned earlier this week.
Mr Ward was dumped from the Liberal Occasion and suspended from parliament after he was charged by the police final yr.
He has constantly maintained his innocence and stated in a press release this week that he seems ahead to getting again to work.
“In relation to elections, the individuals all the time get it proper,” he wrote on Wednesday.
Requested if the federal government would assist a brand new movement to droop Mr Ward, Surroundings Minister Penny Sharpe stated on Saturday the federal government was contemplating its choices, together with referring Mr Ward to the Privileges Committee.
“We’re all the choices at this level,” she instructed reporters.
“We may take a look at referring him to the Privileges Committee however we’re ready till the ultimate declaration of the ballot.”
The committee is ready to make determinations on MPs’ moral requirements and their use of parliamentary privilege, which permits members to talk with out threat of being sued.
Whereas Labor’s candidate Katelin McInerney conceded the election on Wednesday, Ms Sharpe stated the social gathering would proceed to look at for a remaining final result to be declared.
“The rely remains to be underway. It’s nonetheless shut in Kiama. So we’re actually ready to see the ultimate final result.”
The shut seat of Terrigal was referred to as for Liberal Occasion MP Adam Crouch on Saturday by the ABC’s Election Analyst Antony Inexperienced, as counting continued one week on from the state election.
“The Liberal Occasion’s Adam Crouch will retain Terrigal. Widens lead in the present day after a really robust consequence on postal votes,” Mr Inexperienced stated on Saturday.
The consequence means Labor is unlikely to achieve a majority authorities, as counting continues in Ryde and Holsworthy, the place the vote stays too near name.
The federal government stays on 45 seats up to now week as postal votes proceed to roll in and plenty of shut electorates together with Goulburn, Kiama and Terrigal fall by the best way to the Liberals and independents.
About 75 % of the vote has been counted within the remaining three seats.
In Ryde, Labor candidate Lyndal Howison, who attracted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s assist on March 25, leads by a slim margin of some 235 votes.
Labor is quietly assured Ms Howison will clinch the seat with greater than 5000 postal votes nonetheless to return.
If she wins, the social gathering will nonetheless fall one seat in need of a majority.
Within the southwestern Sydney seat of Holsworthy, the place former premier Dominic Perrottet strategically selected to launch his marketing campaign, Tina Ayyad hopes 2000 postal votes will assist her retain the seat for the Liberals.
Ms Ayyad has robust roots within the voters, serving as a Liverpool councilor for years, whereas her husband Ned Mannoun is Liverpool mayor.
However excellent absentee votes may increase Labor candidate Mick Maroney’s probabilities if the postal votes broke even, Mr Inexperienced stated.
-AAP
