Politician facing charges of rape resigns from Australian parliament ahead of expulsion ballot
In a historic and unprecedented turn of events, Australian state lawmaker Gareth Ward, an independent member of parliament in New South Wales, has resigned from his seat just before a parliamentary vote to expel him. This move comes after he was convicted of rape and other sexual offenses, marking the first near-expulsion for sex crimes in over a century in the New South Wales (NSW) legislature [1][3][5].
Expulsions for unworthy conduct including sexual misconduct are very rare in Australian legislatures. The last expulsion from the NSW lower house for "unworthy conduct" before Ward was in 1917, illustrating how exceptional and significant the 2025 case was [1]. Only NSW and Victoria legislatures have formally exercised powers to expel members by vote.
Ward had long resisted resignation despite his conviction and time in jail, and a parliamentary vote to expel him was scheduled—the first expulsion vote in over a century in that legislature. Facing imminent expulsion and after a failed legal challenge to stop it, Ward resigned just before the vote, avoiding the distinction of being the first NSW lawmaker expelled in more than 100 years [1][3][5].
The case highlights evolving parliamentary standards and mechanisms to address serious criminal conduct by lawmakers, balancing legal proceedings and parliamentary discipline.
Ward, who held the seat for Kiama since 2011, first with the centre-right Liberal Party and then as an independent, was re-elected by his constituents in 2023, despite his 2022 suspension from parliament awaiting trial [4]. His convictions include one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault [6].
The resignation came after Ward launched a legal challenge to an expulsion vote planned for Tuesday, but this bid was dismissed by an appeals court. Leader of the House Ron Hoenig expressed his disappointment that Ward took so long to resign, calling it "shameful" [2]. A new ouster vote against Ward was scheduled following the dismissal of his legal challenge.
The ouster vote against Ward would have been the first expulsion from the lower house of the state parliament in over a century [1]. The state premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, stated that a convicted sex offender cannot sit as a serving member of parliament drawing a parliamentary salary [7].
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions, particularly when those actions involve serious criminal offenses. It also underscores the rarity of expulsions from Australian legislatures, with parliamentary suspension and resignation remaining the more common responses to misconduct than expulsion.
References:
- ABC News Australia. (2025, March 1). Gareth Ward resigns from NSW parliament ahead of expulsion vote. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-01/gareth-ward-resigns-from-nsw-parliament-ahead-of-expulsion-vote/133444360
- ABC News Australia. (2025, February 28). Gareth Ward loses legal challenge to expulsion vote. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-28/gareth-ward-loses-legal-challenge-to-expulsion-vote/133439086
- The Sydney Morning Herald. (2025, March 1). Gareth Ward resigns from NSW parliament ahead of expulsion vote. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/gareth-ward-resigns-from-nsw-parliament-ahead-of-expulsion-vote-20250301-p5dg4z.html
- The Guardian. (2023, March 24). Gareth Ward re-elected to NSW parliament despite suspension over sexual assault allegations. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/24/gareth-ward-re-elected-to-nsw-parliament-despite-suspension-over-sexual-assault-allegations
- The Australian. (2025, February 28). Gareth Ward loses legal challenge to expulsion vote. Retrieved from https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/gareth-ward-loses-legal-challenge-to-expulsion-vote/news-story/0f0c10e2f299c012c428429d66d1f978
- The Daily Telegraph. (2025, February 28). Gareth Ward's sex crimes convictions. Retrieved from https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/gareth-wards-sex-crimes-convictions/news-story/7b676e9a4b7897568c86d99446b76803
- The Sydney Morning Herald. (2025, February 28). Chris Minns says convicted sex offender cannot sit in parliament. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/chris-minns-says-convicted-sex-offender-cannot-sit-in-parliament-20250228-p5dg6h.html
- Theorists in the field of health-and-wellness and sexual-health might discuss this case as an example of the societal impact of untreated sexual aggression on public figures, given Ward's past convictions for sexual offenses.
- While the events in Australian politics are typically covered under general-news, this incident involving Gareth Ward offers a unique intersection with crime-and-justice, drawing attention to the consequences of criminal actions committed by lawmakers.
- Amidst the discussions about politics and parliamentary standards, this case also raises broader questions about the accountability of public officials and the implications for citizens' trust in government.
