Gareth Ward Convicted of Rape: A Landmark Case in Australian Politics

In a significant legal ruling, Gareth Ward, a sitting member of the New South Wales state parliament, has been convicted of multiple sexual offenses against two young men. The verdict, delivered by the jury after a thorough examination lasting nine weeks, includes three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape. The incidents took place between 2013 and 2015, and both victims, aged 18 and 24, testified that they were assaulted by Ward at his residence after becoming acquainted through political networks.

Despite the severe nature of the accusations that emerged in 2021, Ward initially resigned from his position as a state minister and from the Liberal Party but remained a member of parliament, successfully re-elected to represent Kiama in 2023. The jury's decision followed three days of deliberation, during which Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles emphasized the striking similarities in the accounts provided by the victims, indicating their testimonies corroborated each other despite the victims not knowing one another.

Ward's defense attempted to discredit the claims, arguing that the rape did not occur and suggesting that the victim from the 2013 incident had misremembered events. However, the jury found his arguments unconvincing. The politician will be sentenced later this year. Although the NSW government had contemplated efforts to expel Ward from parliament, they were advised against it due to possible legal repercussions affecting the trial's outcome.

This case marks a pivotal moment in confronting sexual offenses within political circles in Australia.