Latest news with #GarethWard
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Men alleging sexual abuse by Gareth Ward were scared to report it, witness tells trial
A mutual acquaintance of two men accusing NSW MP Gareth Ward of sexual abuse says both confided in her about the alleged incidents but were too fearful of the consequences if they went to police. Mr Ward, a formal Liberal Minister, now independent MP for Kiama, is on trial in the NSW District Court on five charges, including sexual intercourse without consent with a complainant, who was 24 at the time, at a Potts Point apartment in 2015. He has also denied indecently assaulting a second complainant, who was 18, at his Meroo Meadow home in 2013. Now in its fourth week, the trial on Thursday sat in Darlinghurst Court, after a burst water main temporarily closed Sydney's Downing Centre. It resumed with a political staffer giving evidence about a conversation she had with the older complainant after seeing a Facebook post in September 2020 that appeared to allude to a suicide attempt. She became emotional and had to compose herself as she explained her response to the post. She told the court she contacted the complainant and the pair met for drinks in Sydney where he allegedly told her he had been sexually abused by the politician after a night of drinking. "He told me he had been raped by Mr Ward," she said. The witness was asked what the complainant told her about how alcohol had affected him on the night. She said he told her "only that he couldn't stop the rape". The woman told the court the complainant was distressed and apologised repeatedly for telling her. Through tears, she told the court the complainant "blamed himself". "I reiterated to him that it was not his fault, regardless of what had happened," she said. She said the man told her he wasn't comfortable going to police because Mr Ward "had a lot of power" and he was worried what it might mean for his career. The woman told the court she stayed in touch with the complainant after the meeting, sending occasional messages to check on his wellbeing and to again encourage him to report the matter. She said in November 2020 she was contacted by the younger complainant. In a phone call she said "shocked" her, the younger complainant alleged he had been assaulted by Mr Ward after drinking alcohol at the MP's home. She said the man didn't go into much detail but said the assault happened in the politician's bed. "He said he had been drinking, was quite inebriated and he was assaulted by him," she told the court. She described the man's voice as "shaky" and he sounded "very distraught". The woman said the younger man reminded her of something he had told her in 2016, about him going through "quite serious" drug use. She said he told her that was "the reason he used substances." She said she encouraged him to go to police, but he said he wasn't comfortable with that. In April 2021, she said, she received a message from the first complainant that a journalist had contacted him about an incident involving Mr Ward on the South Coast, prompting her to make a formal police report. She then attended Parramatta police station and told officers what she knew about both complainants. She said she contacted the younger complainant to let him know she had gone to the police, and he responded that he "wasn't comfortable I had taken that step". She later also contacted the older complainant in a message, saying: "I don't ever want what happened to you to happen to anyone else." The woman told the court she did not believe the two complainants knew each other. While still under questioning by the prosecutor, the witness conceded she may have been mistaken about some details, including the older complainant's concerns about missed job opportunities. But she said her clearest memory of the night in Sydney in 2020 was his emotional state and how uncomfortable he was sharing what had happened. The trial continues, with the witness expected to continuing giving evidence tomorrow.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Friend says Gareth Ward accuser afraid to go to police due to MP's political influence
A man who accused former NSW government minister Gareth Ward of sexual assault told a friend he was too afraid to report the alleged abuse due to the MP's political influence, a court has heard. The now independent MP is standing trial in the NSW District Court after he pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent with the complainant, who was 24-years-old at the time, at a Potts Point apartment in 2015. The Member for Kiama has also denied four other charges, including indecent assault, involving a second complainant, who was 18 at the time, at his Meroo Meadow home in 2013. At the start of the fourth week of the trial, the friend said the older complainant told him about the alleged assault one evening. "He described something of a sexual nature had occurred and it was unwanted from his standpoint," the witness said. "I remember him standing, and he would always stand when he wanted my attention, so I knew it was something quite important he was telling me. He said the complainant didn't disclose much detail but named Mr Ward as being involved. The friend said he asked why the incident had not been reported to the police. "He felt he was scared for his job and the perceived power that Gareth would have," he told the court. "He [worried he] would lose his job and he was scared to come forward because of that." Earlier in the trial the defence argued the encounter with the older complainant never occurred. The trial also heard from a former political staffer, who described a conversation in early 2017 with the older complainant who was upset and angry with Mr Ward. The staffer said the complainant looked "not necessarily distressed but seemed very upset". Under cross-examination by Mr Ward's barrister David Campbell SC on Friday, the staffer said he remembered the emotion of the conversation more than the detail and acknowledged his court testimony differed from what he told police in 2021. In the police statement the witness made no mention of the alleged assault, but he told the court last week the complainant had mentioned the allegation to him. "Can I suggest that the version in the statement is a more accurate version," Mr Campbell said. "You can suggest it — but I wouldn't agree with it, " the staffer replied. The trial continues.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Man ‘scared for his job' after alleged MP sexual assault
A man who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him told a friend he was 'scared for his job' if he came forward with the allegations, a court has been told. The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Ward sat in the Downing Centre District Court docks on Monday for the fourth week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC. A friend and housemate of the complainant, who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, took the stand to give evidence. Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles asked the man about a conversation between himself and the complainant in which he appeared 'upset'. '(Name redacted) came to me … seemingly upset and told me of an incident that had happened between himself and Gareth Ward,' the man told the court. 'He was quite distressed and there were tears welling in his eyes.' The man said the complainant had described 'something of a sexual nature had occurred' and said it was 'unwanted from his standpoint'. The complainant 'appeared distressed' during the conversation, the court was told, before the man's roommate asked why the man was not coming forward with the allegations. 'He felt that he was scared for his job and that the perceived power that Gareth had within the Liberal Party would potentially mean that he would lose his job,' the man said. The complainant had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward's apartment. There, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss the man on Mr Ward's balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told. The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man's buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, it's alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated the man before kissing his neck and masturbating. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told. The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022. In her opening address three weeks ago, Ms Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since. The trial before a 15-person jury continues.
News.com.au
13-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Man told he was ‘exaggerating' after allegedly being sexually assaulted by Kiama MP Gareth Ward
A parliamentary associate who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him was allegedly told he was 'exaggerating' when coming forward to another staffer. The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Ward arrived at the Downing Centre District Court on Friday and sat in the docks for the third week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC. A parliamentary associate who worked with the complainant, who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, took the stand to give evidence. The staffer said the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had told him years after the alleged rape that Mr Ward had 'done something' to him. 'I still can't remember the full detail of the conversation but I remember the emotion of the conversation,' the man told the court. The man said the complainant was 'emotional' during their conversation, but he believed that he was 'exaggerating'. 'I remember saying that I felt that whatever it was that (the complainant) was saying that he was exaggerating what he was saying, but I can't recall more details than that,' he said. 'I can remember that being my immediate reaction to it … and I remember being dismissive of what he was saying.' The witness added that he 'didn't know' why he didn't take any action after the conversation, only that he had 'blocked the whole thing' out of his memory. The witness was then quizzed in cross-examination by solicitor Edward Anderson about the details of an event at Parliament House on the night of the alleged rape. The man told the court that he couldn't remember a lot of specific details and exactly who he saw on the night but explained that 'everything that could go wrong' at the event 'went wrong'. His cross-examination is expected to continue on Friday afternoon. In court on Wednesday, the alleged victim told the court that he was 'concerned' that making a report to police would 'cause problems for Mr Ward'. 'I believe Mr Ward is an incredible local member … just because he did these things to me does not mean he is a bad person,' the man said. He had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward's apartment. There, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss the man on Mr Ward's balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told. The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man's buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, it's alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated the man before kissing his neck and masturbating. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told. The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022. In her opening address two weeks ago, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since. The trial before a 15-person jury continues.
ABC News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Sexual assault trial of NSW MP Gareth Ward told of 'emotional' discussion with staffer
A man who has accused New South Wales MP Gareth Ward of sexually assaulting him told a parliamentary staffer years after the alleged rape that the politician had "done something" to him, a court has heard. During the third week of the trial a witness who cannot be identified for legal reasons told the NSW District Court he visited the alleged victim two years after the alleged incident. He told the court the man was "very emotional, very distraught" during their discussion. The court heard the complainant, who was 24 when the alleged sexual assault occurred in Mr Ward's Potts Point apartment in 2015, told the witness that the MP "had done something" to him. It was not specified exactly what that was. The court has previously heard allegations that the complainant was digitally penetrated by Mr Ward without his consent after they attended an event at state parliament. Mr Ward has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent. He has also denied four other charges, including indecent assault, involving a second complainant who was 18 in 2013. Under questioning from the prosecution the witness said the complainant told him he did not like being in the proximity of Mr Ward. "This is why he avoided coming to parliament," the witness said. "I can remember he looked like he had been crying — he looked visibly upset and then when we started talking he got more upset." The witness said he was surprised with himself that he did not take action after hearing the complainant's allegations. "I don't know why — it's like I just blocked it out of my mind," he told the court. The witness said when he was asked to give a statement to police after news of the allegations emerged his memory of the events of that day started to come back. The trial continues.
