Gareth Ward, NSW Politician, Convicted of Rape and Assault

A jury has delivered a guilty verdict against Gareth Ward, a New South Wales state representative, for multiple sexual offenses including one count of rape and three counts of indecent assault. The verdict came after a trial that spanned over nine weeks, concluding with deliberations by the jury that lasted three days. The victims, aged 18 and 24 at the time of the assaults, detailed incidents that occurred in Ward's home after being introduced through political networks between 2013 and 2015.

Ward's fall from grace began when allegations emerged in 2021, leading him to resign from his position as a state government minister and the Liberal Party yet he maintained his role in parliament, successfully winning re-election as the member for Kiama in 2023. The court heard harrowing accounts detailing how Ward assaulted a drunk 18-year-old in 2013 and later raped a political staffer in 2015.

Despite Ward's defense arguing the events did not occur and that the victims were misremembering the facts, prosecutor Monika Knowles emphasized the consistency between the two victims' testimonies. She noted the same pattern of behavior and setting, presenting the jury with a compelling case against Ward. Sentencing for Ward is scheduled for later this year. The NSW government contemplated expelling him prior to the verdict, but legal counsel cautioned against influencing the trial process.