In a hastily-delivered statement,the Premier left no one in any doubt of his intention to expel Gareth Ward. But that would be an extraordinary intervention.
The NSW parliament will support a government motion to suspend Liberal turned Independent Gareth Ward from parliament until a jury verdict is returned on multiple criminal charges against him including sexual assault.
The NSW Liberals could be forced to fight a byelection before the federal election after Kiama MP Gareth Ward was charged.
The Kiama state MP was forced to resign from the government and move to the crossbench in May last year after he revealed himself to be the subject of a criminal inquiry.
The Kiama MP could face charges of sexual violence against two men after NSW sex crimes detectives asked the state’s top prosecutor to consider evidence against him.
The police watchdog will probe how details of an investigation into allegations of sexual violence against Kiama MP Gareth Ward were leaked to the media.
Liberal MPs will wait until the outcome of Saturday’s Upper Hunter byelection before counselling Kiama MP Gareth Ward to consider his political future as he faces sexual violence allegations.
Ms Berejiklian said she was “shocked and distressed” by the allegations but said Mr Ward had done the right thing by moving to the crossbench.
Upper Hunter voters will consider a fresh scandal embroiling a Berejiklian government MP when they head to the polls next week after revelations NSW Disability Services Minister Gareth Ward has been accused of sexual violence allegations.
In just weeks the Berejiklian government’s majority has dissolved,with scandal after scandal forcing Coalition MPs to the crossbench or out of Parliament altogether.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward revealed himself to be the subject of the criminal inquiry and said he had not been contacted by police about the allegations.