NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has stated that Kiama MP Gareth Ward should remain suspended from parliament for as long as he is facing sexual assault charges.
Ward, who was previously a Liberal minister, has confirmed that he will run as an independent to retain his south coast seat at the March 25 election.
Perrottet maintains that the Liberals will secure the electorate, but has yet to finalise a candidate less than 48 hours before nominations officially close. Labour leader Chris Minns has pledged that his party will not do a deal with Ward in the case of a hung parliament and will not preference him in the upcoming election.
Ward was suspended from parliament last year and forced to the crossbench over historical sexual assault charges, which he denies. Perrottet says that his position on Ward’s suspension remains the same until the court matter is resolved.
Police allege that Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy in 2013 and sexually abused a 27-year-old man in 2015, but Ward has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Ward claims he is entitled to the presumption of innocence until he can face due process.
Perrottet has also denied comments from NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, suggesting that the government was open to intervening to extend the life of the Eraring power station in the Hunter region beyond its planned closure in 2025.
Perrottet insisted that the government’s energy roadmap is delivering $32 billion of private-sector investment to ensure a long-term, reliable, and clean energy future. Minns, on the other hand, said that he would not rule out buying back Eraring’s power station.
»MP Gareth Ward remains suspended from the parliament«
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